Creating an Arts/Recreation venue that incorporates the dominant natural feature of the area, the Red River, could help us show what kind of vital arts community we have; could connect communities on both sides of the river; and could show the world that what scares them about us (the weather, natural difficulties, etc.) are what inspire such connection. A flood-protection feature that had a performing arts venue with the river as a backdrop could connect with bike and walking pathways in the summer, and skiing/skating pathways in the winter (warming house?). A feature like this could contain galleries, places to gather around the clock (neighboring coffeeshop with local roaster, anyone?), and a proximity to downtown Fargo.

Santa Fe uses this kind of natural feature as a backdrop to their opera house, and it has been a spectacular success.