It was a perfect day for the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the re-opening of North Park. The festivities included a speech by The City Administrator Bryce Lange and ribbon cutting by Diane Page, Kim Marquardt, Aaron Tarasenko, and Gerald Head. The members of the Dodge Center Foundation raise funds for projects, or events that may need financial assistance. The Dodge Center Foundation partnered with the City of Dodge Center and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources granted funds to help with the upgrades to the park. Neighborhood parks offer more than just a “natural” escape. They also serve as meeting points for picnics, school trips and family gatherings. Of course, the upgrades are designed to enhance the experience of social gatherings that take place at North Park.
There were two phases that included upgrades to the park. The work started in 2019 and ended in summer of 2021. The first phase included: resurfacing the tennis court, a bike path, concrete sidewalk, a flower garden, the new pavilion, and a parking lot on the far west end. The additions are vital to the well being of the residents. Sedentary lifestyles and obesity are becoming more of a trend to a health epidemic comparable to smoking cigarettes. Adults increasingly spend long hours at desk jobs followed by hours of television. An alarming percentage of children receive little to no exercise unless they are made to go outside and play. For those who can afford them, gyms represent an excellent way to combat this trend. But outfitting public parks with a walking trail and bike path are arguably more effective — especially since everyone in the community can use them regardless of socioeconomic status. They’re relatively low maintenance and can provide hours of free and safe exercise for members of the community.
The second phase included updates to the soccer field and softball fields. New dugouts, cameras, red rock, and score boards were installed. The softball players and soccer players have thoroughly enjoyed the updates to those areas. The total cost of upgrades was $370,000. “When you can have several community partners work together; you can achieve bigger results.” Bryce proudly said. He spoke with so much excitement about how the community came together to make this possible.
Parks contribute significantly to making places where people want to live. By fully understanding proximity and convenience and their influences on valuable community places; leaders and city dwellers can help extend the benefits of parks to all residents.
