IN CONSTRUCTION
Phase MI-7: Roosevelt Park and Zoo
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
April 2026
The MI-7 Phase of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project in the Roosevelt Park and Zoo area had a busy and productive construction season in 2025/2026. Construction activities were split between five construction contracts, two general contractors, and dozens of subcontractors.
Wagner Construction had a productive construct season with Phase MI-7E moving forward and it includes the concrete floodwall, earthen levee, municipal utility modifications, and bank stabilization. As of the end of 2025 this phase is approximately 85% complete. The large 27-inch sanitary sewer main was completed and was critical to the project schedule. Installation of the seepage cutoff wall began in April of 2025 and was completed in July. Upon completion of the seepage cutoff wall, construction of the concrete floodwall began in early June. Subcontractor Rice Lake West worked into December and was able complete the entire 2,100 feet of concrete floodwall in 2025, well ahead of the initial project schedule.
Other notable project items completed in 2025 include the construction of 1,300 feet of earthen levee located in the northern portion of the park. Several sections of new water main, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer were installed in the park as well as the area designated for new zoo exhibits. New asphalt parking lots were constructed for the pool and pickleball courts. Rip rap installation along the riverbank was also completed.
Worked planned for the 2026 construction season will involve restoration of the park including final lifts of asphalt, sidewalks, installation of two playgrounds, and seeding in the park. The Magic City Express miniature railroad will also be restored. Several sections of track will be reinstalled, and new vehicle crossings will be constructed. Staining of the floodwall will also begin in the spring. The contractor anticipates all work being completed by the end of the construction season in 2026. Roosevelt Park is expected to fully reopen in late summer or early fall.
Mattson Construction has been constructing several buildings in the park and zoo. The relocation of the Discovery Barn and new Concessions Stand were completed the fall of 2025 and will be fully operational for the summer of 2026. Work continues on the new restroom near the pickleball courts. The facility is scheduled to be open in conjunction with the park. The Magic City Express Maintenance Building is completed and will store the miniature train and cars when not in use.
Several additional contracts have been awarded for new facilities who will begin construction in 2026. MI-7G includes construction of a new wolf exhibit, a new North American cats exhibit and a new storage building. MI-7J includes construction of a new restroom on the east side of the zoo near the African Plain Building. These phases are scheduled to begin construction in the spring and will be completed in 2027. Along with the new construction contracts, a contractor was also selected to begin demolition of the former North American exhibit located on the north side of the river. DL Barkie completed the majority demolition in February and will be wrapped up by mid-summer.
PREVIOUS PROGRESS
April 2025
Construction on Phase MI-7 of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan throughout Roosevelt Park and Zoo has fully ramped up for the 2025 construction season. Both prime general contractors, Wagner Construction and Mattson Construction, have taken advantage of favorable spring weather and have been making progress on nearly all aspects of the project.
Mattson Construction has been working on the interior remodeling of the recently relocated Discovery Barn. Interior renovations include repurposing the former bathrooms into a new outreach area, updating electrical and plumbing, and restoring the exhibit space impacted by the relocation. Exterior site work is ongoing, including sidewalks connecting the Discovery Barn to existing Zoo pathways. Animals used for the Zoo’s outreach program are anticipated to be rehomed to the barn in May. The Discovery Barn is expected to be reopened to the public this summer. A new camel exhibit is also scheduled for construction this summer.
Construction on the new Zoo concessions stand has resumed. Underground utilities have been routed to the building and the concrete flood slab has been poured. Framers are onsite and have begun vertical construction soon to be followed by plumbing, HVAC, and electrical subcontractors. The new concessions stand is anticipated to be open this summer.
Construction of the new Magic City Express Maintenance Building and the new Roosevelt Park restrooms was suspended over the winter months but will resume as conditions allow. The Magic City Express Maintenance Building will be a metal sided wood framed building and will house the model train. The new restroom will be concrete block construction and will be located on the north side of the pickleball courts. Both buildings will be completed this summer.
Wagner Construction has been rapidly moving forward with numerous tasks related to the proposed flood control improvements included in the MI-7E contract. Site clearing, tree removal, and demolition of existing structures through the park and in the zoo for the proposed floodwall and levee corridor are all mostly complete. The four preconsolidation piles that were placed last fall have reached anticipated levels of settlement and have been removed and incorporated into the proposed levee.
Installation of the seepage cutoff wall located beneath the proposed levee and flood wall has begun with the first 200-foot section. This first section will be used as a test to verify the proposed mixture of native soils, cement, bentonite, and water meets specified strengths and permeability. Full production of the seepage cutoff wall is anticipated to resume in early May once test results are available.
The first portion of utility work has also begun. Relocation of a major 27-inch sanitary sewer main that serves a portion of the downtown area started in early April. The first sections of sewer main installed included a directional bore beneath the Mouse River and open cut excavation of dead loop.
Upcoming construction activities include installation of the seepage cutoff wall followed by placement of levee fill in the north end of the park and construction of concrete floodwall through the Zoo. Floodwall construction will continue into 2026. Utility work will continue through the summer with various sections of water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer throughout the park, Zoo, and adjacent areas.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Phase MI-7 Roosevelt Park and Zoo
urban flood control
The design team continues to work towards 90% plan completion and specifications with a March 1, 2023, date for 90% submittal to the Souris River Joint Board. The Design Water Surface has been revised based on the proposed alignments, the levee profiles have been adjusted accordingly.
60% of comments received from United States Army Corp Engineers, IEPR, City of Minot, and the SRJB have been addressed.
There is currently a lot of coordination with multiple stakeholders on impacts, utilities and alternate solutions. The team is discussing with Minot Parks impacts to Roosevelt Park and the surrounding area, considering traffic circulation and tree preservation. The Roosevelt Park Zoo Director, Jeff Bullock, on the proposed relocation of the North American Exhibit from the north side of the Mouse River into Roosevelt Park and Master planning has been completed to provide a potential lay out. We continue working on individual exhibits, structures, and other miscellaneous zoo features. Another larger impacted landmark staple of Roosevelt Park is Magic City Express, a miniature locomotive that travels throughout the park providing a unique view of the whole space. The alternate design of Magic City Express is at 90% design completion with the proposed route being maintained on the dry side of the levee and circling the newly relocated portion of RPZ.
The MI-7 Design team continues coordinating with the City of Minot and several franchise utilities to walk through plans for maintaining service during construction, reroute franchise utilities, and design of municipal utilities through the levee/floodwall system. The team is working on a variety of required permitting with EA, construction permit, and Sovereign Lands permits for both MI-6-Downtown and MI-7-Roosevelt Park and Zoo.
Our whole team continues coordination with the team working on MI-6-Downtown project understanding portions of these two phases will likely be bid as a single project. Utilities, drainage, levee/floodwall profiles, and alignments have all been coordinated. The team is working through the development of several construction phase options which would fit within a proposed Phase 1 construction budget and would limit the impacts to operation of Roosevelt Park, RPZoo, and the pool.
