Events Center Groundbreaking

Watford City took a huge step toward adjusting to its growing population in the past week by breaking ground on a new events center. Although planning for the events center has been in the works for the past 3 years, the execution stage has officially begun!

The new space will be 224,000 square feet, and will house two ice rinks, a basketball court, two practice courts, areas for hockey and turf sports, gymnastics space, a six-lane lap swimming pool, a recreation pool with a water slide, convention area and auditorium. The convention space will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 people, while the auditorium can host up to 3,000 guests. In addition, the center will also house classrooms for the Watford City branch of University of Mary.

Why build the center now? Watford City has simply outgrown many of its existing facilities due to its rising population. The events center will be used by the new Watford City High School, which is currently under construction.  In fact, the events center will directly connect to the new high school, which plans to use the facility for athletic team practices and physical education classes.

Funding for the $83 million project has mainly been footed by Watford City taxpayers, who voted to approve a 1.5% sales tax increase. According to a report shared by the McKenzie County Farmer, Watford City saw one of the biggest increases in taxable sales in 2014, with an increase of 39.44%. However, the city views this center as a worthwhile investment, hoping that once completed, the center will be able to host out-of-town events. In turn, the city's tourism will increase and so will local business.

As the city looks toward the future, so does The Glen at Hunters Run. Our one to three bedroom apartments offer the space you need for a young or small family. We are located just a 7-minute drive away from Watford City High School and downtown Watford City. Once the events center is complete you will be within just a short distance, while still enjoying a peaceful home environment!

Are you looking forward to the new events center? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
McKenzieCounty.net
The Bismarck Tribune
The Dickinson Press

Planning Your Memorial Day Weekend

With a weather forecast of temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s for Memorial Day weekend, it just may finally be beginning to feel like spring! What better way to celebrate the long weekend than by spending time outdoors? If you are without holiday weekend plans, we have some ideas to help you unofficially kick off the spring/summer!

Play in the Park
Your apartment home at The Glen at Hunter's Run is just steps away from Jacobson Park, so gather the kids or your friends for an afternoon outdoors! The park has a playground, picnic area, outdoor grilling area, basketball court and restrooms. Pack up some hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic fixings for a family-friendly day!

Hit the Green
Dust off the golf clubs and head to the Watford City Municipal Golf Course! Enjoy this beautiful 9-hole course with spectacular clubhouse views! The course pars are 72 for men and 73 for women. Golf cart and club rental is available. You may even want to walk to the golf course from The Glen at Hunter's Run - that's how close it is!

Play Ball
Remember heading to the local ball field with your friends as a kid or playing softball with work colleagues? Relive those good old days! Grab your bat and ball, and play a game of baseball at American Legion Baseball Field on 3rd Street. Celebrate this American holiday with America's favorite past time!

Go for a Ride
Take a trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, one of North Dakota's treasures. You can walk, bike or horseback ride along the trails, or pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenic views!

Take a Drive
If you frequently go to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park when you visit, consider driving to a different entrance to see new views, or visit the Elkhorn Ranch! Or just drive around with the windows down and see where the day takes you! The Glen at Hunter's Run is located close to Highway 85 if you feel like taking a cruise!

What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend? Share your event ideas and plans with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run's Facebook and Twitter page! Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who serve and have served our country!

Badlands Gravel Battle

Did you know that May is National Bike Month? If you are an avid cyclist, you certainly will not want to miss the upcoming Badlands Gravel Battle bike race. This 120-mile race through the Maah Daah Hey Trail takes place over Memorial Day weekend. Not an expert cyclist? That's okay! The event takes place very close to The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes, through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, so you could always cheer on the participants from the alongside the race route!

The race begins at the Theodore Roosevelt Park's Medora entrance, approximately 90 minutes away from Watford City, with a 10-mile neutral roll-out. This race can be a challenging one, as it's an "off-road" type of race. Covering a distance of 120 miles, the race route loops through the Maah Daah Hey Trail and across the Missouri River, through North Dakota's rugged terrain.

If you decide to participate in the race, there are a couple of events to celebrate your dedication and success! Before the race, during packet pickup, there will be a social event where riders can get their bikes looked over and pick up any last minute equipment. Once you have finished the race, not only will there be refreshments to replenish you, but there will also be an awards ceremony to honor the top finishing riders.

If you want to support the cyclists without participating in the race itself, the event requires many volunteers to help with the preparation and execution of the race. All volunteers will receive an official race T-shirt as a "thank you" gift. All you'll need to bring is a positive attitude! Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, from cleaning the trails to riding the trails on horseback during the race to aid cyclists. To find out more information about volunteer opportunities, click here.

By participating in this race, not only will you get to enjoy North Dakota's stunning scenery, but you will get to challenge your cycling ability!

Have you ever participated in this type of off-road race? Do you plan to ride in the Badlands Gravel Battle? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages! Good luck!

Sources consulted:
North Dakota Legendary
Experience Land

Watford City Continues to Adapt to Changes

Watford City has changed tremendously throughout the past couple of years due to the oil industry's "boom." It seems like there are always articles released about how the population has skyrocketed to meet the demands of oil jobs. In fact, The Glen at Hunter's Run recently shared an article on our social sites that explains how the city is changing it's goals to center around creating a "hometown" instead of a "boomtown." The city recently shared some other updates that reflect the changing landscape of our city.

Infrastructure Improvements
According to an article in the McKenzie County Farmer, McKenzie County plans to implement "System One (Water) Expansion" this summer, which will include the areas between Alexander and Tobacco Garden. The Geographical Information System Department (GIS) plans to document the existing structures in Watford City by taking aerial pictures of the city. Several road projects are also in the works, including Route 30 and County Road 53. For more information, click here.

Parks and Recreation Department Expansion
This year alone, the Parks and Rec Department has had to add new programs, including Learning to Fish, Adult Outdoor Soccer, Cheerleading and Gracie Combatives, and three new full-time staff members. There are also several parks projects in the works, including an in-line skate rink, softball complex and events center. For more information about these projects, click here.

New High School
While ground broke on the city's new high school last July, the city has just released an update that the construction is progressing on-schedule. According to KFYR-TV, more than 800 students are expected to enroll once the project is completed next January.

How The Glen at Hunter's Run Fits in
From the sounds of these changes and updates, Watford City is definitely transitioning to a "family hometown," something which we at The Glen at Hunter's Run are thrilled to be a part of. Our apartment homes are located just west of downtown Watford City, giving you and your family access to all of downtown's activities, while still allowing you to live within a quiet, residential area. Our homes range from 1 to 3 bedrooms, so whether you are an oil worker who has just moved to the area, or a young family, we have the space to accommodate you. For more information about our apartment homes and to view our current specials, visit our website. We look forward to being a part of the Watford City community for many years to come!

Take a Stroll Along the Maah Daah Hey Trail

In our completely biased opinion, Watford City, North Dakota offers some of the most beautiful views in all of North Dakota. One of our favorite ways to explore and take in the scenery is on the Maah Daah Hey Trail! This location is the perfect spot to take an afternoon hike or bike ride. Whether you have been on the trail once or one hundred times, there is always something new to see!

The Maah Daah Hey Trail stretches 140 miles through North Dakota's Badlands. Four other trails connect to the Maah Daah Hey, including the Long X Trail, Cottonwood Trail, Summit Trail and Buffalo Gap Trail.

The trail begins about 20 miles south of Watford City, along Highway 85, at the US Forest Service CCC Campground and ends Sully Creek State Park in Medora. It is free to enter and hike or bike along the trails and pets are allowed. You can even horseback ride along the trail. Campgrounds, with restrooms, are spaced out about every 20 miles along the trail. Please note, bikes are not permitted on the trail in the stretch that passes through Theodore Roosevelt Park, but there are surrounding trails that offer a biking detour around this.

Not only are there scenic views of the Little Missouri River along the trail, but you are likely to encounter North Dakotan wildlife, too! You are most likely to encounter buffalo along the trail, but there is a chance that you will see skunks, porcupines and possibly snakes. The easiest way to deter these creatures is with a hiker's bell.

The trails was named by the Mandan Indians and means "an area that has been or will be around for a long time." We certainly hope this holds true! The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a North Dakota treasure, and we hope you have the opportunity to experience and enjoy it for yourselves! It is about a 25-minute drive from The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes to the trail entrance at CCC Campground.

What are your favorite spots along the trail or ways to use the trail? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages! We look forward to your insights!

Sources consulted:
Maah Daah Hey Trail Association
North Dakota Legendary

Living Green in Watford City

Happy Earth Day! It's so easy to live day-to-day without thinking about how much water or energy we use, but it's actually pretty simple to "go green" not only on Earth Day, but each of the other 365 days a year, as well! If you don't know where to begin, we are here to help!

Going Green in Your Home
Whether you live at The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes or own your own home, there are simple changes you can make around the house to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle:

• Unplug "energy suckers"- These include large appliances like your television or microwave. If this is too tricky to remember to do, start small. You can begin by unplugging your phone charger when you disconnect your phone from it in the morning!
• Go paperless - Do you pay most of your bills online? Unsubscribe from receiving paper statements in the mail.
• The good, old-fashioned carpool - Chat with your neighbors to see if you work in the same area. If so, take turns driving to work!
• Laundry - Do full loads of laundry, and wash them in cold water! A half-load of laundry requires the same amount of energy as a full one, so make it count. The same goes for the dishwasher.

Around Watford City

• Take advantage of what nature has to offer - Want to read a book or magazine? Sit outside on your balcony or patio! 
• Play outside - Take the kids to one of Watford City's area parks for an afternoon of fun! Jacobson Park is only about a 5-minute walk away from The Glen at Hunter's Run!  Jacobson Park is located at 505 5th Ave. NE.
• Participate in the Watford City Pick Up the Patch on Saturday, May 2! We shared some information on this event in a previous blog post.
• Do you see litter on the ground as you're walking throughout the city? Pick it up when you can!

What are your favorite ways to be environmentally friendly in either your apartment home or throughout the community? These are some simple adjustments that will go a long way in reducing your energy output! Share your ideas on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook or Twitter pages! We look forward to reading your opinions!

Sources consulted:

Care2

Green Living Apartments

Watford City Pick Up the Patch

Now that the snow in Watford City has thawed and the flowers are beginning to bloom, you're probably doing some spring cleaning around your apartment home. But it's also time to do some spring cleaning along our city streets and highways. The fourth annual "Pick Up the Patch" events will take place April 26 through May 2, and your help is needed!

Pick Up the Patch is a collaboration among local businesses, community members, and oil company employees to collect litter along city streets and highways. Citizens of all ages are invited to participate in this event; however, younger volunteers will be assigned to areas in town and not along the highway for safety reasons.

Pick up events will take place throughout the week of April 26, but the big trash collection day will be on Saturday, May 2. Volunteers will meet at the Watford City Civic Center at 8 AM for sign in, and are then assigned areas and given safety vests, gloves and trash bags. Volunteers are welcome to stay for as little or as long as they like. Bottled water and snacks will also be available to keep volunteers hydrated and energized throughout the day. According to the McKenzie County Farmer, last year more than 8,000 tons of trash was collected and more than 100 volunteers participated in the event!

More than just a clean-up day, the program aims to bring a heightened sense of awareness to the community about the litter problem along the highway - something that isn't always visible from your car as you drive by.

If you, your family or your company would like to participate in this event to beautify our town, you may contact Karen Holte at karen.49@hotmail.com or 701-570-9475.

Do you plan on participating? It's sure to be a fun day! If you live at The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes, the Civic Center is just a 6-minute walk away!


Sources consulted:
McKenzie County Farmer
North Dakota Oil Can