Public Comments: Lindgren re Wayne Erickson Memorial Ball Field mail
From:
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 3:24 PM
To: mail
Cc:
Subject: Wayne Erickson Memorial Ballfield
Hello,
My name is Dan Lindgren, and for the past 5 years I have run a fastpitch softball tournament at the ballfield. I believe
the field is at least 75 years old and has a rich tradition of hosting tournaments and league games in those 75 years. For
approximately the first 55 of those years, the field was owned and run by one variation or another of the Scandia
Athletic Assn. Once it became evident that there would no longer be a core (or Corps) of players available to maintain
the field, and on the recommendation of Jim Lindberg and other senior members of the Assn, the field ownership was
transferred to the City of Scandia. Just about everyone, including myself, saw this was a positive transition. I want to
take this opportunity to thank the City of Scandia for agreeing to take over and maintain the field. The City installed
much needed new lights, fencing, seating, electrical, etc..
It is hallowed ground to fastpitch enthusiasts all around the Upper Midwest.
While Mens Fastpitch is a sport that has somewhat faded. Girls and Womens Fastpitch is going strong. The Forest Lake
HS team has enjoyed success for decades. I know there is opportunity to make use of the field for the Girls and Womens
teams, as well as continuing to host an annual Mens fastpitch tournament.
The issue becomes the condition of the field. The playing surface, as it is now, would require regular care in terms of not
allowing the surface to harden to the point where it is unsafe to play. The outfield also has become home to a few
critters that like to dig up the dirt. Both conditions will need to be addressed in order to begin to make regular use of
the field.
In the past, when the field was in regular use, we would regularly drag the field with an implement that would dig up the
surface. In order to maintain the playability of the field, it should be dragged at least once a week, after every rain, and
after every day used. For the outfield, we used to have what amounted to a concrete filled drum that we could pull and
roll around the outfield when the ground was soft. But before that, there should probably be given some attention to
the critters current housed out there.
Once the field is in playable condition, I know there are teams that would put the field to use. There are Girls Fastpitch
Clubs that would be willing to try the field out for practices, and hopefully even games. In my youth, boys played league
baseball games on the field too. There may be a possibility there as well, but the bases and pitching mound locations
may pose an issue. Womens Slowpitch has used the field for decades, going back at least to the 1970s. I hope they can
continue to use the field as well.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Dan Lindgren
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