5.a 2021.09.30 Oct 2021 Chair reportPRC Chair report – for October 7, 2021
World Famous Pickleball Tourney at Taco Daze
The 4th annual event at the September 11th Taco Daze was a success. There were 12 teams (24 players)
participating, with continuous play from 10AM until 4 pm at the two community center courts. There
were many spectators, both to cheer on players as well as curious on-lookers who were unfamiliar with
the game. The weather was perfect for the event. Keeping with our world-famous theme, the team
that traveled the furthest to play was from Tofte, MN.
There remain some expenses pending, due to delay in delivery of the t-shirts. Due to that delay, the
Lions have generously offered the shirts for free. Most players are local; thus the shirts can be
distributed easily, however, there may be some pending postage costs to send the shirts to out of town
participants. The estimate is as follows:
2021 TACO DAZE PICKLEBALL REVENUE AND EXPENSES Estimate
Revenue: $360 12 teams with a $30 registration fee each
Expenses: $212.13 $0 26 t-shirts (Lions provide taco daze t-shirts at no cost)
$54.70 winners’ medals, from Forest Lake Printing
$29.99 Pickleballs
$52.61 Misc., fun awards
$75 Postage (estimate)
Net: $ 147.70
Orwell Ave Park Properties
Greg Zauner and I, along with several members of the Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails, walked the
two Orwell Avenue park properties on September 13. The 3.1-acre southeast property has several low
areas that had some water despite the dry conditions, likely designated at wetland, as well as higher
areas with a variety of trees and bushes, including significant buckthorn, Amur maple, and other
invasives. The 4.55-acre northwest property is more open, with heavy growth of goldenrod.
We were unaware to any recent survey work. The physical boundaries of existing fence lines, mowing
and clearing of adjacent properties, and tree lines appeared to establish park boundaries.
No specific proposals were brought forth; however the Friends group would like to stay involved as
plans develop, especially for the northwest property. One idea included a controlled burn to add some
plant diversity to that area primary covered with goldenrod.
Veterans Memorial
On September 29, Patti Ray and I met with Randall Simonson and Dave Wilson, the primary sponsors of
the Veterans memorial at Lilleskogen. The purpose of the conversation was primarily to discuss how
additional space could be added to accommodate more bricks and further honor our veterans. Randall
and Dave presented a couple of ideas for a low-profile wall on the south side of the circle, designed to
not encumber the existing site lines of the memorial.
The group discussed prior fund-raising efforts as well as the historical development of the memorial,
how the memorial has impacted people and brought many to the park, and general ideas and timelines
about how to add the additional bricks.
Randall explained that reflectors and other high visibility markers have been, in prior years, placed
around the memorial to prevent snowmobilers from entering the area. He asks that the city do that
again for 2021-2022 winter. Also, he asked if the low-level brush directly behind the memorial be
cleared. I explained that I would follow up his request with the public works director.
Respectfully submitted, Terry Gorham
PRC Chair