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10.3. SR 03-02-2020City of Qk*' River Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 10.3 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Work Session March 2, 2020 Cal Portner, City Administrator Item Description Reviewed by Lion John Weicht Park Dedications Reviewed by Action Requested Discuss and provide staff direction. Background/Discussion Since the demolition of the Elk River High School varsity softball field for construction of the multipurpose facility, Mayor Dietz received two requests to maintain the prior dedications. The first was to the home dugout and second for special grandstand seats for three residents who were very involved in the softball program. Further, the park has been named after Lion John Weicht in recognition of his contributions to the park and our community as well as the Elk River Lions Club. The new wayfinding entrance monument will boldly show his name. The Council should consider a weather resistant plaque to further tell the story of the Lions Club and Mr. Weicht at the park. The city administrator has been informed by the Elk River American Legion that they do not desire to move the U.S. Highway 10 Veterans Memorial to the park as the Mayor had previously proposed. Staff suggests waiting until the park is fully operational before considering any further naming or memorials to ensure we have a full vision of the park. Staff does support reflecting the dugout, seats and a plaque for the Lions Club story. Financial Impact The seats and dugout plaque were salvaged by the high school before demolition and can be installed with modest expense. Perhaps the Lions Club would be willing to purchase or share the costs of a dedication plaque. Attachments Woodworth Request Sheetz Request The Elk River Vision A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional,` 01 e service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires pi ospei ly INAMIRE1 Sarah Woodworth 19513 Elgin St. NW Elk River, MN 55330 July10,2019 Mayor John Dietz City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 Re: Elk River Softball Fields Greetings Mayor Dietz, JUL 15 2019 My name is Sarah Woodworth (Fritz) and I'm writing to you in response to an article that was published in the Elk River Star News on June 29, 2019. The article was regarding the decision made between the school district and the city of Elk River agreeing to swap ownership of the softball fields next to the ice arena to move the Elk River High School softball fields to Lion's Park. I am not writing to offer any negative comments or feedback. As a resident of Elk River and a parent of children who play softball and hockey I am in full support. I am writing to you to make a small request regarding the Elk River High School Varsity Softball field when the fields are moved. My Dad, Joe Fritz, passed away unexpectedly in 1996. He was a long-time supporter of Elk River athletics, but specifically the Elk River High School Softball team and the recreational teams through the Elk River Youth Softball Association. He coached my and my sister's teams starting in the late 80's, became the Vice President of the Elk River Softball Association in the 90's, and then went on to become an assistant coach and pitching coach for the Elk River High School softball teams as my sister and I moved through middle and high school until he passed in '96. He spent endless hours on the field coaching young athletes and supporting the program and loved every minute of it. I knew he also played fastpitch softball in his young adult years but came to learn more about him as a player after you published a touching article about him in the Elk River Star News shortly after he passed away. In 1997 the High School dedicated the Varsity field in my Dad's name and placed a plaque on the home dugout of the Varsity field. This meant the world to me and my family as we continued to grieve our loss. To this day, we still attend Elk River High School softball games and visit his "home". It's also become a special memory for my daughters, who are now walking in their Mom and Grandfather's footsteps and becoming softball players themselves. As an Elk River High School alum, resident of Elk River, and now a coach through the Elk River Youth Softball Association for my own daughters, I am asking that his plaque move with the field to it's new location across the street. It has brought many happy memories to me and my family and is a special way to remember him and a sport he loved. I would love to discuss this further or other possibilities to keep his plaque at the new complex. My contact information is below if you or someone from your office would like to reach out. I understand this may be out of your hands as the fields are transferring ownership, but I wasn't sure where else to start. Thank you for your consideration, ` 1 ¢ "A -0zclu,154i�— Sarah Woodworth Portner, Cal Subject: Naming the sball fields From: Stacey Sheetz <sV�ac a u�m t r wp � "8 �i,)r > To: John Dietz <m V:�ii u m wn> Sent: Sun, Jan 26, 2020 8:54 am Subject: Naming the sball fields Good morning John - I wanted to check with you to see if there was anyway we can somehow incorporate Gwen -Faye- Loretta to the fields. I was hoping the red chairs also got the fields with the name plates as well. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help the process. Thanks! Say hello to the Fam! Stacey Sheetz Physical Education Teacher Parker Elementary ISD 728 This is a staff email account managed by Independent School District 728. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.