PHOTO OF THE DAY: WESTSIDE WORK

This was the scene on the west side of the Freeman Prairie Arboretum as personnel with the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks installed a new fishing pier. It will be used as part of the 19th annual Freeman Fishing Derby scheduled for Father’s Day weekend next month.

According to reporting by the Mitchell Republic and included in this week’s Courier:

Built by inmates at the Mike Durfee State Prison, the pier is expected to be a game-changer, providing safe and easy access to the water. GFP’s Carter Knecht, who spearheaded the project, visited the arboretum last summer and recognized the potential for improvement.

“There’s decent access around the pond, but this pier will make it even easier for people to get out here and enjoy the outdoors,” Knecht said.

The project was funded through habitat stamp funds, which come from the sale of hunting, fishing, and furbearer licenses in South Dakota.