WALHALLA, N.D. — Pembina Gorge State Park is expected to open this summer, 10 years after its inception in a master plan created by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

Construction began this week, said Rendezvous Region Tourism Council President Angelle French, though recent rain impeded some of the work. The construction follows last week’s groundbreaking. French served as one of the speakers, along with North Dakota Parks and Recreation Director Cody Schulz, Governor’s Office Chief of Staff Jace Beehler and local youths Eva Robinson and Max Mostad.

Approximately 100 people attended. “We had a great turnout,” French said. The work being done now will result in a 55-unit campground, with 50 modern camp sites, five primitive sites, up to six cabins, underground utilities, roads, a maintenance shop and a comfort station.

At present, the campground is an empty field in Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, a 2,800-acre expanse of nature with a multitude of activities, history and space for visitors to explore. Getting to the point of creating the state park has had its difficulties, namely in acquiring funding, French said. During the last legislative session, North Dakota Parks and Recreation included $8 million in its budget for construction of the park campgrounds.

It also was in Gov. Doug Burgum’s budget recommendations. ADVERTISEMENT The funding didn’t make it through Senate Appropriations, which in turn resulted in an emailing campaign to legisl.