Jamestown committee approves contractor selection for miniature golf course

The Jamestown Finance and Legal Committee unanimously recommended approval on November 18 to authorize Jamestown Frontier Attractions to proceed with a construction manager at risk selection process for a miniature golf course at Frontier Village. The decision initiates a request for proposals to contractors for what officials described as a specialized outdoor recreation project and sets the stage for negotiating a guaranteed maximum price with the selected builder.

Emily Bivens, executive director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Tourism and a member of the Jamestown Frontier Attractions Board of Directors, explained that the selection process is appropriate because of the project�s specialized scope. The construction manager at risk approach is intended to provide cost certainty by allowing a guaranteed maximum price to be negotiated before construction begins, a procurement path that can limit budget overruns and provide greater predictability for public and private funders.

Financially the project is anchored by a $212,500 Destination Development Grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce. With an estimated total cost under $500,000, the grant would cover roughly 40 to 45 percent of a half million dollar budget if construction reaches that amount, leaving Jamestown Frontier Attractions to raise a local match to bridge the remainder. Project organizers are currently pursuing that match through local fundraising efforts.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with a planned opening in 2027. The outdoor course will be located in the vicinity of the Frontier Village amphitheater, where benches were removed a few years ago. Project planners hope to convert the amphitheater stage into a picnic pavilion, integrating passive and active recreation uses to increase visitor dwell time and create complementary revenue opportunities for nearby retail and food service operators.

The committee also recommended approval of several Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation requests, including funding for Jamestown Tourism digital marketing, an expansion of the Workforce Pathways Program, and renovations to the JSDC and chamber building at 120 2nd Street Northeast. In addition the Civic Center will purchase volleyball equipment to better host regional tournaments, a move intended to drive incremental tourism related revenue through overnight stays and concessions.

From an economic perspective these actions reflect a coordinated local strategy to diversify tourism offerings, upgrade event infrastructure, and invest in workforce development. The combination of grant funding, local matching requirements, and the use of a guaranteed maximum price contracting method aims to balance ambitious community development goals with fiscal discipline. If the miniature golf course and other investments increase visitor counts and holding times as intended, local businesses could see modest but steady gains in spending over the coming years, reinforcing Jamestown�s broader efforts to sharpen its regional appeal.