Prairie Rose games getting under way

GRAND FORKS (AP) — The Prairie Rose State Games are being held in Grand Forks this weekend, but it may be awhile before they come back to the Red River Valley.

Bill Palmiscno of the Grand Forks Park District chairs this year’s event, and he’s a member of the Prairie Rose board. He says participation in the games, which are the state’s version of the Olympics, has been slipping over the years.

About 3,000 athletes are expected for this weekend’s games. The event peaked in 1999, with 7,252 participants.

The games switch back to Bismarck for each of the next two years, including the 25th anniversary.

Palmiscno says it may be a good time to evaluate the future of the event. He says it’s possible the games could switch to an every-other-year or every four-year event.

Palmiscno says holding the games every year may be a “little too much.”

Tags: recreation league, prairie rose, grand forks, sports