Small Town News

Youth center project moving forward after lengthy delays

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With the sounds of heavy machinery, the site of the Turtle Mountain Youth Wellness Center in Belcourt is being readied for construction. Despite unexpected delays, the project is now moving forward.

What was once originally a grove of trees and then a hole in the ground with huge water pond, is now a nicely-leveled site that will be the location of a state-of-the-art facility for area youth. Local coordinators of the project are Lyle Poitra, Pathways to Prosperity Economic Development Specialist, and Shane Martin, Turtle Mountain Community High School Athletic Director. Both Poitra and Martin are former directors of the Anishinaube Cultural and Wellness Center.

"The whole community is excited about it and when I mention it to anyone, they tell me it's been a long time coming for our kids," said Poitra.

The first phase of the project will be a domed indoor 50-yard football/soccer field with a track encircling its perimeter. The second phase of the project is a main wellness center which will house multi-purpose activity stations, classrooms and offices.

Poitra said the original site had been selected two years ago, and an environmental study was done for $5,000; however, the Bureau of Indian Affairs disallowed the use of the original site across from the Belcourt School Administration building. The extra cost of excavation of the new site has added to the cost of the entire project.

At this point, Martin said the money used for site preparation in the new second site on the north end of Belcourt would have been enough to fully fund Phase 1. Instead, the coordinators are actively looking to find another $700,000 to complete the first phase.

According to Poitra, the project has secured about $1.3 million in funding so far. Poitra said he is optimistic the remainder of the funds needed will come from a variety of grants and loans.

"I'm very certain that we'll be breaking ground in the spring," Poitra stated. "Right now, it looks like the site preparation should be finished by the deadline of October 15 and after that, the dirt will have time to settle over the winter months."

Martin added that the project will be a "fantastic addition" to the overall ability of the community to offer healthy alternative activities for youth.

"I'm grateful to the tribal leadership and schools for their support for this project and that we can see the reality of this project start taking shape," Martin said.

Martin and Poitra said the groundbreaking for the center will take place in the spring of 2010 and its grand opening will be held in the spring of the following year in 2011.



Copyright 2009 Turtle Mountain Star, Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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