By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The Waldorf City Council held a public meeting the evening of Thursday, June 15, in the community center, to discuss two items: Waldorf Veterans’ Memorial Park and the relocation of the St. Clair Wood Ducks to Waldorf which would include the construction of a new baseball complex.
Waldorf native Charlie Barnes presented the same idea he had a couple months ago regarding the Veterans’ Memorial Park. Barnes would like to donate a 50 x 70 foot lot in front of the new city mural, across from the Community Center, to the city for the park.
“This won’t cost the city any money for the building of the park,” Barnes assures. “The city would only be responsible for maintenance, repairs, and insurance.”
The cost, Barnes estimates, would be between $80,000 - $100,000; funding would come from local donors over the course of the next year.
Barnes listed many fundraising opportunities and organizations including the chance of a “state dinner” being held to raise funds. He went on to describe his idea.
The “community” park would include a gazebo, park benches, a boulder and plaque honoring veterans, three flags (MN, POW, and US), a brick path from the street to the gazebo, surround benches, and a stone thanking veterans for keeping our country safe.
“I think this is going to be a beautiful park,” Barnes told the roughly 20 people in attendance. “If the council will approve it.”
Barnes expects maintenance costs to be about $100 a month once the park is complete.
“We’re just very excited about the idea and the concept of doing this,” Barnes added. “So there it is.”
After answering some questions, Mayor Rob Wilkening asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they were in support of the project. Everyone in attendance raised their hands. None were against. Wilkening said the topic would be among the items voted on during the next council meeting, scheduled for July 10.
The second item up for discussion during a City of Waldorf town hall the evening of Thursday, June 15, in the community center was the relocation of the St. Clair Wood Ducks to Waldorf, which would include the construction of a new baseball complex.
Nathan Gerdts of the Wood Ducks told those in attendance Thursday that the team would like to work something out with the city to give the baseball field in town some “TLC.”
“We’re looking for a field we can call our own,” Gerdts said. “We just want a place to play ball and bring people to town.”
Gerdts explained that the players and managers on the team would like to take out a personal loan to finance the expansion of the current field to specifications needed for a full-sized amateur baseball diamond. The renovations, which could cost more than $250,000, would mainly be done by the players on the team, some of whom are landscapers and construction workers. Included in the renovations would be a fence, possible lights, dugouts, and a clubhouse, including concession stands.
Gerdts said the team is interested in relocating because they can’t currently sell alcohol at their games in St. Clair and are unable to raise funds through the use of banners on the outfield fence. The field they currently play on is owned by the St. Clair school district.
Gerdts estimated that between 50 and 100 fans attend their games, which are played about twice a week. In a season, the Wood Ducks average 20-25 games, roughly half of which are at home.
A lot of details would need to be worked out in order to make this dream a reality, but when asked, all those in attendance, about 20 Waldorf residents, said they would be on board with the project.
“If everyone is on board, that’s when we get down to the nitty gritty,” Gerdts said. “We just want to make sure it’s gonna work.”
Mayor Rob Wilkening encouraged the forming of a parks committee to pursue this idea further. No action was taken as this was a public hearing.
The details of what could happen are a little too broad at this point to say more.
The public hearing concluded at 7:57 p.m.