Citizens Alley
Minot, North Dakota
By Nicole Thom-Arens
Published in 2026
My favorite places of any large city or small town are its gathering space—those spaces where one can sit unbothered alone or with a group and enjoy being outside taking in the atmosphere of a place. In New York, that place is Bryant Park; in London, it’s Trafalgar Square; Chicago has Millenium Park; Fargo has Broadway Square; and in Minot, that special place is Citizens Alley.
Citizens Alley offers four seasons of outdoor fun for locals and visitors and officially opened in summer 2025. Located at the corner of First Street SE and East Central Avenue in downtown Minot, Citizens Alley is a year-round gathering place designed with community at the forefront. It’s a place where people can gather year-round for planned and organized events or just to meet up and relax together outdoors.
As I stood on the third-floor balcony, the view below was like something from a Hallmark Christmas movie. Fairy lights hung between the buildings offering a warm glow. People gathered around a firepit and heat lamps while others “raced” in slow-moving ice bumper cars around a track on the ice rink made to resemble Mario Kart. The racing was organized by Ackerman-Estvold employees for the annual holiday party. Dozens of my husband’s coworkers (mostly engineers and architects) dressed up as characters from the video game and delighted in getting behind the wheel and cheering for favorites from the sidelines. Citizens Alley and the volunteers from Local Motives, a nonprofit that operates the alleyway, offered a new opportunity for coworkers to celebrate, making it a memorable night.
As I stood on the third-floor balcony, the view below was like something from a Hallmark Christmas movie. Fairy lights hung between the buildings offering a warm glow. People gathered around a firepit and heat lamps while others “raced” in slow-moving ice bumper cars around a track on the ice rink made to resemble Mario Kart. The racing was organized by Ackerman-Estvold employees for the annual holiday party. Dozens of my husband’s coworkers (mostly engineers and architects) dressed up as characters from the video game and delighted in getting behind the wheel and cheering for favorites from the sidelines. Citizens Alley and the volunteers from Local Motives, a nonprofit that operates the alleyway, offered a new opportunity for coworkers to celebrate, making it a memorable night.
Ice bumper cars aren’t just for special events. They are available to rent during designated hours—check the Citizens Alley website for details. When ice bumper cars aren’t running, the rink is often available for leisure skate. In a place where winter can be long, Citizens Alley offers a cozy retreat, firepit alight, for locals and visitors to enjoy the outdoors. As a bonus, Prairie Sky Breads is adjacent to the alley and it’s the perfect place to stop for a warm drink before cozying up by the fire in the afternoon.
During warmer months and throughout the summer, Citizens Alley transforms from a winter wonderland to an urban park with pickleball and basketball courts, pop jet fountains, and a food truck. The alleyway also becomes a prime location for markets, community yoga, and live music. In late-fall 2025, Local Motives announced the group received the Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which will help fund ten Citizens Alley summer concerts from 2026 through 2028. Future fundraising along with the matching grant dollars will allow the group to host the outdoor concerts and offer them free-of-charge to the public.
Downtown Minot has been among my favorite North Dakota locations for years. Citizens Alley is the latest addition that makes this small city a delightful destination and well worth the journey to the middle of the state.
During warmer months and throughout the summer, Citizens Alley transforms from a winter wonderland to an urban park with pickleball and basketball courts, pop jet fountains, and a food truck. The alleyway also becomes a prime location for markets, community yoga, and live music. In late-fall 2025, Local Motives announced the group received the Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which will help fund ten Citizens Alley summer concerts from 2026 through 2028. Future fundraising along with the matching grant dollars will allow the group to host the outdoor concerts and offer them free-of-charge to the public.
Downtown Minot has been among my favorite North Dakota locations for years. Citizens Alley is the latest addition that makes this small city a delightful destination and well worth the journey to the middle of the state.