4.0. PRSR 10-09-1996 16826 232nd Avenue
Big Lake, MN 55309
October 8, 1996
Mr. Dana Anderson
Elk River Park&Recreation Commission, Chairperson
8720 Ohland Avenue
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Mr. Anderson:
This letter is to advise you and to make record of a vicious situation that took place on Saturday,
October 5 at the ballpark near Lake Orono in Elk River.
There were several youth football games scheduled to take place and I was there to attend my
godchild's game for the first time. The football fields were positioned in the outfield of several softball
diamonds allowing minimal room between the two areas. With me were two of my sons, Jeffrey 9
years of age and David 1 1/2 years of age. In an effort to entertain my youngest son, my oldest son and
niece played catch with him using a soft plush material ball. In keeping one eye on them and still
trying to watch my godson's game,I noticed a male individual pick up a plastic trash can from the
entrance to the fenced area and throw it. This caught my attention, wondering what he was going to
do. Suddenly I realized, as he stampeded toward my children,that he was yelling uncontrollably at
them, "How many times do I have to tell you, get off the field..." and proceeded to verbally attack
them. I grabbed my 1 V2 year old and escorted my very shook-up older son to their grandfather to
watch so I could address this unacceptable behavior.
When I went to the concession stand and asked for this person, another women asked what's the
problem. They both knew, as he would not even come out of the back room at first. I told the women
what he had done and she replied tensely that they have asked time and time again to stay off of the
infields. I told her that I did not know. Her actions, and his, implied that I ignored them and their P.A.
announcements at the beginning of the games. This was my first time to this park and I had just
arrived shortly before. I told them,while being very upset and stern, that all they would have had to
have done was ask and/or explain to them to move and we all would have understood and respected
their request. The female then felt it necessary to reprimand everyone at the park over the P.A. sytem,
not once but at least twice.
After talking further with her and in a telephone conversation with David Anderson on October 7, both
parties seemed to think I need to understand where they are coming from. If I understand in their
terms,they expect me to tolerate volunteers verbally attacking small children,yelling uncontrollably in
their face. I hope the City of Elk River does not feel the same way.
• I sincerely apologize for any alleged damage to the softball field that my two children may have caused
while playing catch on them and just being kids, not criminals.
-2-
•
With this being an ongoing problem, which both the female behind the counter and Dave Anderson
identified,why isn't it posted? A couple of small stakes with a sign stating "Please stay off the
infields" would alleviate and possibly eliminate this problem.
In a return call from Dave Anderson, after apparently following-up with the volunteers, he responded
only to the trash can and to the supposed reason this male volunteer threw the trash can was because of
bees. THIS IS IRRELEVENT and a poor attempt to justify the actions in question. As a volunteer
myself, volunteers need to be people-orientated, responsible, and have the ability to deal with all kinds
of people and situations. Although my 1 '/2 year old doesn't really know what happened, I left Elk
River and this park with a very upset and confused 9 year old, afraid to return to this park. Another
individual that witnessed this behavior also went to the concession stand to express is disapproval.
I sincerely hope that all volunteers that the City of Elk River recruits is better trained, screened, etc.
prior to having direct contact with the public. Should this happen again, it could lead to much more
serious actions, legally.
I would very much like to attend the Park and Recreation meeting on Wednesday evening when this is
addressed, but as I mentioned, I too am a volunteer and will be teaching my 5th grade religion class at
• St. Henry's in Monticello unless I can get another qualified volunteer.
Written response from the Park and Recreation Commission and from the City of Elk River in relation
to the volunteer's behavior and to the correction or next steps in posting off-limit areas in the ballpark,
is greatly appreciated. I can be reached at the address on the top of the first page or by telephoning any
of the numbers listed below.
Sincerely,
d
Mary A. Swanson
263-8810 (H)
540-3783 (W)
540-4104 (Fax)
cc: Park&Recreation Commission
Elk River City Hall
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
Mr. Hank Duitsman
• Mayor of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330