Conservation & Forestry
Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) provides and protects wooded buffer zones in ecologically sensitive areas, supports community gardens and orchards, tree-planting activities (over 2,677 planted in three years) and an arboretum. BPRD has embraced integrated pest management, is engaged in prairie restoration, xeriscape design, invasive species removal and planting native grasses, flowers and trees. Downed trees are repurposed for wood mulch.
BPRD practices efficient water use, utilizing untreated water and minimizing gallons used through computer-aided, zone-specific irrigation systems. The city’s tall grass and weeds ordinance allows for grass over eight inches in undevelopable areas. This allows BPRD to maintain undeveloped park land in a more natural state and use less fuel, staff and equipment hours for maintenance.
Recycling Containers
Recycling containers are side by side with trash containers in several Bismarck parks. Containers are clearly marked, so you’ll know what to toss and what to recycle. Help us keep Bismarck parks clean and green.
| Bismarck Parks and Recreation District | |
| Recycling Container Placement | |
| Capital Racquet & Fitness Center | 1 |
| Cottonwood Park Shop | 1 |
| Cottonwood Soccer | 2 |
| Custer Park | 1 |
| Eagles Park | 2 |
| Johnny Gisi Memorial Park Pickleball/Youth Tennis Courts | 1 |
| Jaycee Leadership Hall | 2 |
| Municipal Ballpark | 2 |
| Nishu Bowman Indoor Archery Complex | 1 |
| Outside of the pools (Hillside, Wachter, Elks & the Aquatic Center) | 4 |
| Park Operations Shop | 1 |
| Pioneer Park | 3 |
| Pro-Shops, (Tom O’ Leary, Riverwood & Pebble Creek) | 3 |
| Scheels Complex | 2 |
| Sertoma Club Community Center | 2 |
| Sertoma Park | 3 |
| Sertoma Soccer | 1 |
| Sertoma Tennis Courts | 1 |
| Sons of Norway Tennis Courts | 1 |
| Tom O’Leary Tennis Courts | 1 |
Bismarck Forestry Division
The mission of the Bismarck Forestry Division is to manage and improve the health of the urban forest while enhancing the quality of life for our growing community. The Forestry Division manages the trees on city and park district properties, as well as organizes Bismarck’s annual Arbor Day ceremony each May.
Learn more about “Champion” Trees and the History and Stories of Bismarck’s Trees.
Contact the Forestry Division at 701-355-1700, option 3, or visit www.bismarcknd.gov/101/Forestry for more information.
Western Tree Trials
Few tree species grow well in North Dakota’s climate, making it difficult to develop a diverse plant community. Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) partnered with ND State University’s Woody Plants Research Department in 2016 to study underutilized tree species. The Western Tree Trials will determine the adaptability of 40 tree cultivars. NDSU will provide BPRD with 160 trees over a two-year period, four each of 40 tree cultivars. This partnership allows BPRD to try a variety of new trees, enhance the beauty and diversity of parks, and support tree research.