City officials have been working to develop the South Bismarck Flood Control Project following changes to the city’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which were approved by the City Commission in June after nearly two years of opposition from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If built, the project would remove hundreds of structures from the 100-year floodplain, mostly in underserved neighborhoods, that were added in the 2024 map updates.

The $122 million proposal would include the construction of a stormwater retention pond between the Clem Kelley Softball Complex and the Bismarck Expressway, relocating two softball fields and a community orchard. It is one of two proposals for drainage ponds. City Engineer Gabe Schell informed the Bismarck Park Board of the potential disruption of county property during a July 25 meeting.

The project involves replacing a barrier structure where South Washington Street crosses the southern Bismarck drainage ditch with a pump station built to FEMA standards. According to Schell, FEMA accreditation requires that the drainage ditch and upstream stormwater systems perform during a concurrent rain event during a Missouri River flood.

To meet the standards, the city is considering two possible proposals for improvements to the upstream stormwater system that would minimize impacts on private property.

The first proposal involves building a 15-foot-deep flood pond on a small piece of airport property. Water would enter the flood pond through a chute under South 12th Street and a second chute under Tacoma Avenue that connects to the drainage ditch. This option requires coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. Schell described those ongoing discussions as “tepid.”

“There are other implications,” he said, “but the biggest one is the uncertainty that the FAA brings, that we may have to go through six more steps or months or even years of project development before they can say at the end of the process, ‘No, we’re not interested in this project.’”

The second option involves building a flood pond and pump station at Sertoma Park. The drainage pond would be up to 20 feet deep and would relocate two Clem Kelley softball fields. This option also includes installing a duct under the Bismarck Expressway, beginning at the intersection of South 12th Street and draining into the flood pond.

From there, a pumping station would pump the water out an outlet to the river, likely through a culvert under the bike path or an open ditch next to it. The city would work to limit the impact on the Park District by building two new softball fields elsewhere in the community.

Park Board members were wary of the idea that district ownership would be affected by the project. Park Board Commissioner Michael Gilbertson insisted he is all for the district being a team player and part of the solution, but said this is the second project to come before the board this year that could have a significant financial impact on the district.

Park Board Commissioner Julie Jeske said she was “not thrilled with the idea of ​​losing two stadiums in Clem Kelley,” adding that any new softball complex would need parking, restrooms and more than just two fields. Jeske also expressed concern about the cost, fearing that local funding could be obtained through special assessments.

“There’s a lot of money to be raised, and I understand — I don’t want people to lose their homes. I don’t want businesses to be overwhelmed, but there’s got to be a better alternative and a less impactful alternative than blowing up two baseball fields,” she said.