Bismarck Needs A Public Marina & Ramp

Crowded Boat Ramps

I'm hearing reports that the boat ramps this spring in Bismarck and Mandan are resembling a scrum at an NHL playoff hockey game. Yep, it can get a little tense out there, especially if you don't have patience. Long lines and extended wait times just to get your boat in the water.

We just don't have the boat ramps we need in town, especially on the Bismarck side, now that the Keelboat Park ramp is gone forever, which is a whole other can of worms.

The Fox Island Ramp

This is really the only public ramp we have on the Bismarck side of the river. As you can imagine, now that the Keelboat Park ramp is gone, it's even busier than normal, and to be honest, it was zoo even with Keelboat Park, especially during the spring.

Not to mention, the current can be a challenge to both load and unload a boat at this ramp. Especially if you are not used to using this boat ramp. Misty Water Marina in North Bismarck does have a very limited boat ramp pass, but they limit that to about 15 customers, and you guessed it, there's a wait list to get on it.

Why Not a Public Boat Ramp & Marina in Bismarck?

That's why I thought I would float an idea (get it) that was actually something the previous Mayor Steve Bakken was trying to bring to the city a while back. A public marina and boat ramp.  A place that would cater to the fishermen in Bismarck, and not just the pleasure boaters/pontoons. A place where you could use the boat ramp daily for a reasonable fee, and you could also leave your boat for the weekend on a slip or for the season. Not to mention you wouldn't have to fight the current, as you do at Fox Island and other area ramps.

Bakken's idea was to have the Park District use some of Sertoma Park for this project. It has plenty of space under the high water mark. Dig it out, and you have a marina that could be used for short-term public slip rentals and a public boat ramp.

This could be a mint for the Park District, and seed money that could be used for other Park District projects, without burdening taxpayers. Sounds like a win, win, win to me. The Park District wins, taxpayers win, and so do fishermen. Let's do this.