The transformation of Grand Forks’ South 42nd Street continues.
The neighborhood’s longtime draw, the Alerus Center,
underwent a number of renovations in recent years
, including a new roof, upgrades to the suite level and, this year, work on the facility’s conference center.
The Hugo’s Raceway BMX track
, located in the south end of the Alerus Center parking lot, was completed in 2021 and draws competitive bicycle racers from around the region.
Ground was broken this summer on the Altru Sports Complex
, also located south of the Alerus Center. When complete in 2027, the 215,000-square-foot center will include indoor turf, a competition pool, a walking track and pickleball courts, among other amenities. It’s a high-end public-use facility that comes with a price tag of roughly $110 million.
Just north of the Alerus Center, work is expected to begin in 2026 on
a railroad underpass
that will ease congestion on the increasingly congested corner of 42nd and DeMers.
It all equates to incredible progress on a neighborhood that truly is the city’s front porch, an area highly visible from adjacent Interstate 29 and one that soon will offer a wide mix of visitor amenities.
To the growing list, add one more: The Grand Forks Children’s Museum, to be located on 42nd in the growing geographic cluster that includes the Alerus Center, the Altru Sports Complex and the BMX track.
As reported recently by the Herald
, leaders of the museum are hoping to break ground on the 34,000-square-foot structure as soon as next month. If work does indeed begin this summer, they’re hoping for a completion date sometime in early 2027. But, as the Herald noted, the timing of the groundbreaking event correlates to progress of ongoing fundraising efforts.
Translation: The museum must continue to bring in money to lessen the distance from its current tally to the final goal. At the time of the recent Herald report, museum fundraisers had brought in $27.2 million toward the overall goal of $40.8 million. That includes dollars from private donations, public input from the city and state, and other grants and pledges.
When complete, the museum is expected to “create a welcoming, inclusive outdoor play space where children of all abilities can come together to explore, learn, and play,” according to its website. There will be a focus on education and engagement, providing “educational opportunities that captivate minds young and old, making learning fun and engaging.” Once it opens, we predict it will be a draw – attracting residents and nonresidents alike.
In its sum, the offerings on 42nd Street will create an experiential destination corridor unprecedented in the city’s history.
As we have said before
, Grand Forks is not blessed with mountains, lakes or some rich historical background that draws tourists. In the past, the community has made up for that with retail offerings. But while retail still is important in town, it’s no secret that it has changed, especially with our city’s national box-store offerings. Macy’s, Kmart, Shopko, Pier 1, Sears and others simply no longer exist here.
In their place must be things to do – concerts, festivals, races, shows and children’s activities.
The Grand Forks Children’s Museum fits that vision, and it’s our hope that its backers are able to reach a threshold that allows the facility to begin construction yet this summer. To do so, funds must be raised.
Considering the role the museum will play in the ever-developing scheme to bring people to Grand Forks, we wish its leaders well and encourage donations to the cause. Here’s one way: The museum recently launched a so-called “High Five” fundraising campaign, inviting donors to contribute a set sum over the course of five consecutive years.
In addition to pledges over time, methods of contributing include gifts via cash, check or credit card, stock or planned gifts. Even local children are saving their coins and contributing, the museum leaders told the Herald.
The children’s museum has great promise to be another valuable asset for the community. Let’s push it forward and make it a reality sooner than later.
Herald editorials are written under the byline “Herald editorial board,” since they sometimes include the thoughts, opinions or written input of multiple authors. Editorials generally reflect the opinion of a newspaper’s publisher.
