Tyler Sand - Fargo Parks & Public Affairs

06/16/2026

🏹 SHOULD ARCHERY DEER HUNTING BE ALLOWED IN THESE FARGO PARKS?

Tomorrow at 7:30 AM, the Fargo Park District Planning Committee will discuss a proposal to allow archery deer hunting in:

🌳 Orchard Glen Park
🌳 Forest River Park
🌳 Heritage Hills Park

According to the committee packet, these parks were removed from the Urban Archery Deer Hunting Program in 2022 because they are outside Fargo city limits. The proposal would add them back into the program.

Supporters argue that the program helps manage deer populations.

Others may have concerns about how hunting could affect people who use these parks for walking, hiking, bird watching, photography, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

The Planning Committee meeting is open to the public and begins at 7:30 AM at the Fargo Parks Sports Center.

📍 6100 38th Street S, Fargo

Public comments are accepted at the beginning of the meeting.

What do you think?

Should archery deer hunting be allowed in Heritage Hills, Forest River, and Orchard Glen Park?

06/11/2026

I appreciate Valley News Live for covering this issue, as it's something I highlighted during my Park Board campaign.

I believe it is important for current Fargo Park District board members to experience the facilities they oversee so they can make informed decisions. However, those benefits should be reasonable and directly tied to serving on the board.

Providing benefits to former commissioners, household members, and even guests goes far beyond that purpose and provides little to no value to taxpayers. While the Park District may argue these benefits have minimal direct cost, there is still a real opportunity cost. Every golf tee time, pool admission, or facility reservation used through these lifetime benefits is one that is unavailable to paying members of the public.

I am also concerned that commissioners will now receive different levels of compensation based solely on when they were elected. Once the new board is sworn in next month, four commissioners will receive a more generous benefit package than the newly elected fifth commissioner, despite serving in the same role. If the previous benefit structure was excessive enough to warrant reform, it is worth asking why those inequities should continue indefinitely.

Fargo Park Board commissioners and their households have received free lifetime access to golf courses, indoor courts, and outdoor pools even after leaving the board.
Now, the Park District is revising that policy for newly elected commissioners, but nearly 20 former members remain eligible for the full benefits under the old structure.
More: https://www.valleynewslive.com/2026/06/11/fargo-park-district-revises-policy-that-gave-board-members-lifetime-access-facilities/

06/10/2026

Last night, the voters made their decision, and while I won't be serving on the Fargo Park Board, I am incredibly grateful for the support I received throughout this campaign.

Thank you to everyone who hosted a yard sign, knocked doors, made a financial contribution, shared my posts, talked to friends and neighbors, and encouraged others to get involved in this election. Campaigns are never won or lost by one person, and I could not have done this without your support.

I also want to thank the hundreds of residents who answered their doors, met with me over coffee, sent emails, commented on posts, and shared their experiences with Fargo Parks. I learned so much from those conversations. Hearing what matters most to our community - and where we can do better - was the most valuable part of this entire experience.

While the election may be over, my commitment to Fargo is not. I will continue advocating for accessibility, balanced services throughout our city, thoughtful long-term planning, and greater transparency in local government. There are many ways to serve a community, and this is certainly not the end of my involvement.

Congratulations to the candidates who were elected, especially Emily Secor May for Fargo Parks. I believe she will bring valuable new ideas and perspectives to the Fargo Park District, and I wish all of the commissioners success as they work to serve our community.

Thank you again for your support, your encouragement, and your friendship. It has truly been an honor to earn your trust and your vote. ❤️

06/09/2026

✋ STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

There are only a few hours left to vote, and polls close at 7:00 PM.

If you've been meaning to vote but haven't made it there yet, now is the time.

Over the last several months I've knocked on thousands of doors, attended meetings, listened to residents, and worked to bring attention to issues affecting Fargo Parks.

If you believe in:

✅ Accessibility for all
✅ Balanced services throughout Fargo
✅ Long-term planning
✅ Transparency and accountability

I would be honored to earn one of your three votes for Fargo Park Board Commissioner.

🗳️ Polls are open until 7:00 PM.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this campaign. Let's finish strong!

06/09/2026

🗳️ TODAY IS ELECTION DAY - LOOK FOR TYLER SAND ON YOUR BALLOT!

After months of conversations with residents across Fargo, today is your opportunity to help shape the future of our parks.

When elected to the Fargo Park Board, I will focus on:

✅ Accessibility for all - physical, financial, and transportation access
✅ Balanced services throughout ALL of Fargo
✅ Long-term planning that protects and improves the parks we already have
✅ Transparency and accountability in how decisions are made

I've spent this campaign listening to residents, attending meetings, asking questions, and advocating for improvements before ever holding office.

Today, I'm asking for your vote.

If you support better access, balanced services, and stronger long-term planning for the Fargo Park District, I would be honored to earn one of your three votes for Fargo Park Board Commissioner.

🗳️ Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM today.

Thank you for your support throughout this campaign. Let's finish strong!

06/08/2026

⚠️ 🚲 Imagine riding this trail after dark.

A resident recently asked me to check out this section of the Downtown Fargo River Walk, just south of NP Avenue under the railroad bridge.

I stopped by to see it for myself.

The photos don't fully capture it, but the trail has settled significantly, creating a steep drop-off across part of the paved path. While it may still be passable for many users, it is clearly not accessible for everyone and presents a safety concern for cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers, and others who rely on our trail system.

What surprised me most wasn't just the condition of the trail - it was the lack of any warning signs, markings, or temporary safety measures.

This is one of the most important trail connections in downtown Fargo. Why hasn't it been repaired⁉️

When I talk about balanced investment across Fargo, this is exactly what I mean. New facilities are important, but so is maintaining the parks, trails, and infrastructure we already have. Residents should be able to expect that existing amenities remain safe, accessible, and well maintained.

Have you noticed other trails, parks, or facilities that need attention? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear where you think the Fargo Park District should focus its maintenance efforts.

06/06/2026

🚶 One great idea I heard while talking with residents came from a North Fargo resident who asked:

"Why can't the FARGODOME concourse be used as an indoor walking track when events aren't taking place?"

Honestly, I think it's a great question.

The FARGODOME sits empty much of the time - it's already climate controlled, accessible, and has plenty of parking.

Instead of always looking at expensive new facilities, we should also be asking how we can make better use of the public facilities we already have.

Would it require coordination between the Fargo Park District, the The City of Fargo - Government, and the FARGODOME? Definitely.

Would there be operational and staffing considerations? Of course.

But these are exactly the kinds of partnerships we should be exploring.

Low cost. High impact.

As I've talked with residents throughout this campaign, one thing has become clear: people aren't looking for bigger budgets and bigger projects. They're looking for practical solutions that make our community better.

What do you think? Would you use the FARGODOME concourse as an indoor walking track during non-event hours?



Image credit: Billybob2002, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150079621

06/05/2026

🗳️ You can vote here. But can you get here?

This week, Fargo residents have the opportunity to vote early at the Fargo Parks Sports Center.

What surprises many people when I talk to them is that there is still no public transit service to the facility.

The Fargo Parks Sports Center isn't just a recreation center.

It's also:
✅ A voting location
✅ Fargo Park District headquarters
✅ A public meeting location
✅ Home to Sanford Health services, where residents receive medical treatment and therapy

Yet residents without access to a vehicle still face significant barriers getting there.

To me, accessibility isn't just ramps, sidewalks, and accessible parking spaces.

It's also making sure people can actually reach public facilities in the first place.

Throughout this campaign, transportation has come up far more often than many people might expect.

⚠️ I've heard concerns from seniors, young people, individuals with disabilities, and residents without reliable transportation.

⚠️ I've also heard from North Fargo residents who are frustrated by how long it can take to reach the facility - often a 25-minute drive traveling by car.

Everyone deserves reasonable access to the services their tax dollars help support.

What do you think? Should the Fargo Park District work more closely with matbus and community partners to improve access to public facilities?

06/04/2026

🚪 After knocking on almost 2,000 doors, three things keep coming up.

Throughout this campaign, I've had hundreds of conversations with Fargo residents from every part of our community. I've talked with parents, seniors, young professionals, longtime residents, and people who simply care about the future of Fargo Parks.

While everyone has different priorities, three themes keep coming up again and again:

✅ Parks and services should be accessible to everyone.
✅ Residents want balanced services across the city, including North Fargo.
✅ People want transparency and accountability when decisions are made and tax dollars are spent.

I've heard concerns about affordability, accessibility, transportation, facility maintenance and upkeep, and making sure the Fargo Park District continues to serve everyone well into the future.

But more than anything, I've learned that Fargo residents care deeply about their parks and want their voices to be heard.

Thank you to everyone who opened their door, stopped to chat, sent me a message, or shared their perspective. Those conversations have shaped my campaign and strengthened my belief that Fargo's best ideas come from the people who use our parks every day.

🗳️ Election Day is June 9, and early voting is already underway. If you've appreciated my focus on accessibility, balanced services, transparency, and long-term planning, I'd be honored to earn your vote for Fargo Park Board.

06/03/2026

🎙️ Today I joined Joel Heitkamp on News & Views to discuss the future of the Fargo Park District and why this election matters.

One of the biggest topics we discussed was affordability and transparency.

Fargo residents deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent across ALL park district programs and services. Right now, we can only calculate the taxpayer support for some programs, such as swimming pools, because those costs are clearly broken out in the budget.

But what about the rest of the Park District?

If we're going to make sound decisions about budgets, fees, facilities, and future investments that reflect community priorities, we need clear data across the entire organization.

We also discussed accessibility, balanced services across Fargo, long-term planning, and making sure our parks work for everyone, including seniors and residents in North Fargo.

Thank you to Joel Heitkamp and KFGO 790 AM for the opportunity to share my vision for Fargo Parks.

The interview link is in the comments below. 👇

What would you like to see prioritized in Fargo Parks over the next few years?