03/03/2026
SPARC UPDATE
This portion of the post recaps the 3/2/26 council meeting discussion related to the SPARC Wellness Center:
Public Works Director, Dennis Miranowski reported that during a design meeting last week with JLG Architects it was determined that the 5 acre site at NDSCS was not adequate for the building size, parking, and green space requirements of the project. He said that he asked NDSCS for an additional 150 feet of land to the north, and the request was denied. A motion was made to discontinue negotiations with NDSCS regarding the land lease, and the motion was unanimously approved by the city council. There was no further discussion.
Dennis also walked through a better option for the turf structure called Legacy Building Solutions. The “turf bubble” had a low price tag upfront but huge maintenance costs. The new Legacy Building offers lower construction costs, lower upkeep, and can be insured - making it a far more practical for long term use.
This portion provides additional context and reflects the personal perspectives of Amanda and Stacia:
At this point, the NDSCS site just isn’t going to work for the SPARC project. We understand this is disappointing news, especially given the amount of effort that went into exploring this location. Many individuals dedicated significant time and energy trying to make this site work. We also recognize that this was the site option presented to voters, and we understand it’s especially difficult to see it not come together.
Last Thursday, the State Higher Board of Education met to review the land lease agreement. They did not approve it but instead decided to continue negotiating the terms with the City. Around that same time, JLG Architects shared preliminary drawings for the proposed 5-acre site. Through that process, it became clear that some of the space we were counting on, especially for parking, wasn’t as usable as originally thought. It has become apparent that expanding beyond the current footprint to gain additional acreage is not a realistic option. In the end, the site just isn’t big enough to support everything the facility needs, especially if we want room to grow in the future.
At the end of the day, we don’t feel it’s in the best interest of the project, or a responsible use of tax dollars, to move forward with a site that limits what we can do long-term. We really only get one chance to do this right.
We know this is tough to hear, but there may be a silver lining. The delay has given us time to look into some new financing options that have recently come up and we will be pursuing them to better the project!
As for what’s next, there will be quick movement to explore other site options that meet the goal of at least 10 acres.
Please drop any questions in the comments. We appreciate your questions and input.
Reminder: This page is administered by Amanda Miller Fisher and Stacia Pauly Henningsen. It is not owned or operated by the City of Wahpeton. We are volunteers who try the best we can to keep supporters updated on the progress of the Wellness Center!
