Community Builder Extra

Page 1

C Saturday, August 28, 2010

MMUNITY BUILDER Extra

6 Pages

Alexandria Detroit Lakes Morris New York Mills Park Rapids Perham Wadena In this issue of Community Builder, a quarterly publication of local Forum Communications newspapers, we take a look at what makes our community special.

Art deco theme gives Wadena crisp and clean look

PJ File photo

The sun rises above the clouds behind an art deco inspired entrance sign north of Wadena.

What does Wadena have in common with Miami? According to sculptor Kent Scheer, it is an art deco downtown. To curious onlookers driving through U.S. Highway 10, Wadena’s claim to fame has been being hit by an EF-4 tornado. But travelers who turn away from tornado destruction to U.S. Highway 71/Jefferson Street can see brighter and more elegant scenery in the downtown. “One of our challenges here is to get visitors and travelers to turn down onto the main street. I think a lot of people drive through Wadena on Highway 10 and that’s what they see,” Kay Browne, executive director of Partners For a Healthy Wadena Region said. “A lot of people haven’t seen downtown yet.” Browne said art deco was a design movement from 19251950. It originated in France and was sandwiched between the earlier Art Noveau and later Modern art movements. Scheer, who was heavily involved in the downtown revitalization project, said art deco is characterized by a crisp and clean industrial look. It is the “sort of simplicity that had an elegance to it,” he said. Famous buildings with

art deco design include the Chrysler building and Empire State building, Browne said. Browne said the most visible Wadena example is the Cozy Theatre with its neon marquee. The Cozy was built in 1914 and renovated in the 1930s. Inside, the colorful curtains and “Monarch Ice Cream” clock of the original theatre screen continue the art deco aesthetic. The interior of the Wadena Memorial Auditorium, also designed during the Depression, is another current example of art deco. “There isn’t any town around here that has anything like the Cozy Theatre and the Memorial Auditorium,” Browne said. An Aug. 24, 2000 Pioneer Journal article on art deco lists the Boondocks, the Uptown and Smith Furniture as other businesses aside from the Cozy with art deco neon signs. Browne said that the KWAD and Brink’s Jewelry buildings used to have big art deco arches until they were renovated later. The old drive-in theatre marquee on U.S. Highway 71 features this kind of design as well. The late 1990s saw a new

interest in capitalizing on Wadena’s existing art deco characteristics. “The city went through a strategic visioning in 1998,” Browne said. Surveys were sent to discover what was most valued. The highly visible Cozy Theatre was one. Even now, Browne said, visitors stop to take pictures of the Cozy. The nonprofit Partners For a Healthy Wadena Region formed from the strategic planning committee, Browne said. Scheer said the suggestions from the strategic plan coincided with the time for the main street to be resurfaced anyway. Scheer custom-designed the art deco medallion for the street lights. He said that Dave Evans, manager of electric utility, found out how to make the relatively weak blue rings brighter. “All the sidewalks were redone and Kent Scheer also made a sidewalk stamp,” Browne said. Even the trash cans were designed with an art deco theme. The art deco theme as part of the Downtown Revitalization Project was completed in 2003. See ART DECO on PAGE 3

A unique film festival embraces do-it-yourselfers RACHELLE KLEMME

rachellek@wadenapj.com

Since fall 2005, the Whiskey Creek Film Festival hosted at the Cozy Theatre has been one of the area’s unique offerings, showing limited-release movies and documentaries that would not otherwise be offered in small-town Minnesota. Now, with the rising prevalence of RED, YouTube and camera phones, Whiskey Creek is offering a short film contest open to submissions. According to the festival’s website, whiskeycreekfilmfestival.org, qualifying submissions postmarked by Sept. 1 are eligible to win $100 cash awards and additional screenings at venues to be announced in Little Falls, Staples, Brainerd and New York Mills. “So many people now have the tools to make films,” Jamie Robertson, director of the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center said. “You can make a reasonably decent video that has something to say that you can post on YouTube that lots and lots of people will see, which never was a possible option.” He said that filmmaking used to be for a restricted group of people, but with increasing technology, that is no longer the case. Robertson is one of the film festival organizers. He said the object of the festival has always been to show films in current release that aren’t available in the area. He said that no other small-town festivals in the area have this emphasis. Park Rapids, for example, has a film festival, but its theme is classic films rather than independent new releases. He said that “current release” means a film has been in theatres for less than six months. The organizers pick films that are good, but reasonably accessible. They make a point to include family-appropriate films in the selections. “There are lots of good children’s films that are not necessarily released by the very large companies like Disney and Pixar,” Robertson said. Robertson said that Whiskey Creek Film

Festival attendees mostly come from a 50 mile radius, judging on surveys of zip codes. He said that the price of tickets for Whiskey Creek covers only about a third of the cost to bring the limited release films to Wadena. The rest is covered by local businesses, the Five Wings Arts Council, and funding from the 2008 Arts and Culture Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota State Legislature. He said that attendance grew the first two years and since then has been steady the last three years. While some films have gone nearly unnoticed, others like “Waitress” became big hits. “It’s more like a compact film series than a film festival in the traditional sense of the term where you would actually solicit films to be submitted for competition or at least for review,” Robertson said. “It was just an effort to move in that direction and to support Minnesota filmmakers.” He said that the slew of tornado videos on YouTube indicates potential filmmakers in the area. Robertson said he wants to see the Whiskey Creek Film Festival expanded and institutionalized as its own nonprofit in the future. He also said he looks at other area film festivals for ideas. “Different film festivals such as the Fargo Film Festival have had contests where people make the film in 24 or 48 hours and submit it,” he said. Robertson said that since September is a low ebb for film releases, it is easier to schedule. The upcoming Whiskey Creek Film Festival will run Sept. 10-16. The feature film selections for this year’s festival include: • “Babies” (Rated PG; documentary) • “Cyrus” (Rated R; comedy) • “Get Low” (Rated PG-13; comedy) • “Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work” (Rated R; documentary) • “The Kids Are All Right” (Rated R; comedy) • “Winter’s Bone” (Rated R; drama)

The poster for the 2010 Whiskey Creek Film Festival.

Photo Illustration provided by Kent Scheer

Wadena Pioneer Journal office: (218) 631-2561 • Fax: (218) 631-1621 • Web site: www.wadenapj.com • E-mail: PJeditor@gmail.com or classifieds@wadenapj.com

PJ Community Builder

Page 2 • August 28, 2010

August 3, 2010 Dear friends of Wadena,

Wadena Pioneer Journal

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped us during the recovery of our City. You willingly gave your time, talents, energy and resources. Our City is indebted to you.

On behalf of the City Council and residents of the We have strategic vision for rebuilding our City— City of Wadena, I would like to extend my heartfelt one that will once again make Wadena a vibrant thanks for your prompt response and assistance dur- and vital community along the Highway 10 and 71 ing our recent disaster recovery efforts. Corridor. We are making fantastic progress, due in large part, to your efforts after the tornado. Before June 17, 2010, I could never have imagined such devastation in our City. But, I realize Please know that your contributions are recognow that in times of great despair there are also a nized and greatly appreciated. great many reasons to be thankful. We are thankful that no lives were lost. We are thankful for the outpouring of concern, caring and support from the Sincerely, many volunteers, law enforcement, fire departments, public works crews, electric crews and the numerous Wayne Wolden agencies that stepped up to help us in our time of Mayor need.

Terry Tertbar and Dale Tyge help temporarily fix the roof of an elderly couple on the northwest side of town after the June 17 tornado.

Photos by Brittin Roberts

Jill Hahn is one of many from Tri-County Hospital that volunteered after the June 17 tornado.

Wadena-Deer Creek

Mayor Wayne Wolden speaks with Russ Weappa, Anni Olson, Barb Eitel and Ross Beaumont, four Sebeka bus drivers who had been delivering volunteers to the ravaged parts of town.

OPEN HOUSES 7th-8th Open hOuse

Throughout the years, churches played a huge role as the center of our communities and our social life. Today, churches still exist as an important function in the life of our community and they have a part in “what makes our community special!” St. Hubert’s Catholic Church, Bluegrass

Celebrating 100 Years of Faith: 1910-2010

Established 1908

St. Frederick’s Catholic Church

Sunday Mass: 10:30am 218-445-5204

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602 South Jefferson St • Wadena Pastor Jeremy Vance

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Association of Free Lutheran Congregations

Sunday Mass: 8:30 am

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“In the heart of Blue Grass, MN”

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Sunday School: 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 am Kids For Christ: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Wednesdays Everyone is welcome! AFLC

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Verndale, MN

Worship Service: 9:00 am Sunday School: 10:15 am Please join us!

Mass times: Sunday 10:30 a.m. & Wednesday 8:00 a.m.

Fr. Don Wagner, Pastor

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Confirmation on Sundays at 4:00 pm Wednesday Evening Bible Study at 7:00 pm

WADENA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 23 Dayton Ave SE, Wadena MN 218-631-3412 Pastor Shirley Nelson

INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR MISSION IS TO WORSHIP GOD JOYFULLY Contemporary Services with Praise Team 2nd and 4th Sundays TO GROW IN LIVING FAITH Small Groups and Communion monthly TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY ACTIVELY Opportunities to work with Missions both locally and beyond TO SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE WITH THE WORLD

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Church of Saint Ann

at Deer Creek School Monday, aug. 30 6 to 8 p.m. 7th Grade Orientation at 7 p.m. Hotdogs, burgers, chips and beverages.

WDC staff will be available to visit with families. Guided tours and information provided. Come and join us as we kick off the school year!

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at St. Ann’s School Cookies and lemonade served.

K-6 Open hOuse at WDC Elementary

9th-12th Open hOuse at M-State-Wadena & WDC Elementary Wednesday, sept. 1 4 to 6 p.m. Hotdogs, burgers, chips and beverages.

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Mass Times: Tuesday 8:00 am Friday Fair Oaks 9:30 am Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:30 am Mission Statement: We, the people of St. Ann’s, a Catholic faith community, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are united regularly to praise and thank God and celebrate Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and the sacramental life of the Church. We commit ourselves to help in Christian growth by spiritual, academic, and social education; to see the needs of others and respond in love and sharing.

Thanks to those who supported our communities after the tornado.

PJ Community Builder

Wadena Pioneer Journal

August 28, 2010 • Page 3

Resiliency and Beauty Less than five weeks ago, in this very place, The sirens and warnings made people’s hearts race. What would happen to Wadena, this town that’s so great? The tornado was coming, what would be their fate? Everyone took shelter to wait and to pray, “Please God, help us survive this day.” The destruction that followed was beyond belief, So many homes gone, so much need for relief! As the townsfolk surveyed the storm’s mighty path, They must have felt sadness, perhaps even some wrath. They could have despaired and given up hope, They could have said they’d reached the end of their rope.

Photo by Rachelle Klemme

The design patterns inside the Wadena Memorial Auditorium are an example of the art deco style.

They could have, that’s true but as you clearly can see, Resilient Wadena, simply would not let that be. No, they knew that this place was a treasure worth preserving So they bonded together as one, helping and serving. The tornado may have damaged much of the town But it hasn’t beat Wadena and can’t keep it down. With the strength of their faith and community pride, They are overcoming this tragedy side by side. Oh Wadena, we admire your strength and your grace And we are honored to gather in this beautiful place.

ART DECO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Scheer later created the blue murals by the Burlington Northern Park. He said the murals were designed to tie the Alley Arts Project in with the town’s existing art deco features. The art deco aesthetic goes beyond downtown. The Chamber of Commerce and Wadena residents wanted entrance signs, and those were given that simple but appealing look. Browne said she has received good comments about the entrance signs. At a recent community meeting, Browne said, one man suggested the town should have an art deco museum or display. Scheer said it would be a good idea to pursue the art deco aesthetic more thoroughly. “We went part way toward creating an arresting and exciting community image but the city didn’t develop the critical mass to actually make it our identity. That could still be accomplished, however, since we have such a very strong start,” Scheer wrote in an e-mail to the Pioneer Journal. In the meantime, the existing work concentrated on Jefferson Street is still a source of community pride. “We have such a nice, walkable downtown,” Browne said. “We have all kinds of nice historic buildings that are still there.”

Mike Lehn Captain of the CycleOps team of MS TRAM riders

Photo by Brittin Roberts

MS TRAM — “The Ride Across Minnesota” bicyclists had a stopover in Sunnybrook Park on July 28. Mike Lehn, Captain of the CycleOps team was inspired to write the above poem as a tribute to “the great spirit of the folks of Wadena in the face of tragedy.”

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PJ Community Builder

Page 4 • August 28, 2010

Wadena Pioneer Journal

A CELEBRATION OF THE RAILROAD RACHELLE KLEMME

rachellek@wadenapj.com

Wadena has trains to thank for its existence. “The original town site was on the Partridge River ... back when people traveled by river,� Kay Browne said. The site now known as Old Wadena became history when the Northern Pacific Railroad was built some distance away, and Wadena as we know it came to be. The Wadena depot, properly called the Northern Pacific Passenger Depot, was built in 1915, closed in the early 1970s with many other depots, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. After years of being boarded up, it re-opened to the public in 2008. “It’s the last standing passenger depot in Wadena County,� Browne said. Browne said the Northern Pacific Passenger Depot also functioned as an express freight depot. The freight room is now the dining room. Browne said Wadena used

Photo by Rachelle Klemme

Volunteers have made it possible for the Wadena depot to be open to the public since June 2008. L to R: Allan Lynk, Kay Browne, Karen Heller and Joye Peterson

to have another depot, the Great Northern depot, on the southeast side of town for the north-south track. The north-south track from Sauk Centre to Cass Lake discontinued passenger service in 1952 and freight in 1984, Browne said. The railroad track along U.S. Highway 71 has since been removed and turned into a bike trail connecting the

main part of Wadena to the golf course. Wadena’s depot is a historic site rather than a working train stop now, but the east-west railroad along U.S. Highway 10, called Main Line, continues to be very active under Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF). Technically, the railroad still has passenger service as well. Browne said that two

Photo provided by Jim Ramnes

A BNSF eastbound train passes by the tornado-damaged buildings in July.

Photo provided by Jim Ramnes

A stormy Thursday in August provides the backdrop for an eastbound train passing by 1st Street East in Wadena.

Amtraks pass through at about 1:00 a.m. and about 4:00 a.m. Wadena railroad enthusiast Jim Ramnes said the line is now part of the BNSF Transcontinental. Ramnes said that around 1995, Burlington Northern merged with Santa Fe to create the current company. “Wadena’s very lucky to be on an active line ... because we can have businesses that want to ship by rail,� Browne said. She said that a Saturday train, the Local, is more predictable than most locomotives. Arriving from Dilworth/ Glyndon, it stops to pick up from Drywall Supply. Otherwise, details of train activity are less predictable. “They won’t even tell us anymore how many trains or the times that they go because of 9/11,� Browne said. “Sometimes we’ve had visitors come here and they wait and wait and wait to see a train, and they might be

Are we on your radar yet?

A classic American Tavern at in Ottertail

here for ... around two hours, and there’s no trains. You can’t predict it,� Allan Lynk, another depot volunteer, said. For people who watch for and photograph trains as a hobby, the locomotives are not so mysterious. Ramnes takes photographs of trains in the area and posts them on his blog, look4trains. com. So-called railfans get close enough to trains and train tracks to get a good photo, but Ramnes said they stay behind fences and guardrails and off the tracks. People who trespass on railroad property and put themselves in danger by standing at or near the tracks give railroad enthusiasts a bad name, he said. Ramnes said Wadena is a good town for railfans partly because of defect detectors by the tracks. “You can hear them from miles away,� he said. “You can hear them talk to each other.� He also said that railfans

use Advanced Train Control System (ATCS) monitors which graph the locations of oncoming trains and allow them to predict when they will arrive. The ATCS software can be operated from cell phones. Ramnes said that while he gets enjoyment out of railfanning, the general public often finds trains to be a nuisance. “Most people are frustrated by trains,� Ramnes said. He said that the time waiting behind the guard rail is not much compared to the potential time spent in highway gridlocks. “Trains save a lot of road traffic,� he said. “They save truck space.� Ramnes said the best aspects of being a railfan are not the trains themselves, but other people who share the hobby of photographing them. “I have really enjoyed the people I’ve gotten to know,� Ramnes said.

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PJ Community Builder

Wadena Pioneer Journal

August 28, 2010 • Page 5

Prime location for hunters, anglers BRIAN HANSEL

brianh@wadenapj.com

If there is a whitetail deer heaven, it has to be pretty close to Wadena County. Four of the state’s highest-scoring kill blocks surround the city of Wadena. There were 13,127 deer taken by firearms in those kill blocks last fall. That was 8 percent of the entire deer harvest in the state. From a whitetail’s point of view, what is not to like? First of all, you have a nice mix of woods and swamp. For a quick escape artist like a whitetail, that is perfect. In addition to the private land in Wadena County, there are 13 Wildlife Management Areas, Lyons State Forest and Huntersville State Forest. Secondly, the food situation is very good. There are many irrigated fields in the Wadena area that yield crops like wheat, soybeans, corn and alfalfa. “It has the right mix of woods, cropland and swampland — that’s excellent for deer,” Park Rapids DNR wildlife manager Rob Naplin said. While whitetails are numerous there is also some good waterfowl and upland hunting to be found near Wadena. Ducks migrating from the Dakotas, Canada and northern Minnesota use Wadena County’s lakes and rivers as stopping points. The Crow Wing River, which runs down the eastern side of Wadena County, is a good migration route for waterfowl. The duck flight over neighboring Otter Tail County is strong due to the multitude of lakes in that county. Wadena has a resident Canada goose population which is augmented in the fall by the arrival of Eastern Prairie Population Canadas. The Department of Natural Resources has sweetened the pot for goose hunters this fall by raising the limit on Canada geese to three daily during the waterfowl season. Wadena County also sports a ruffed grouse population. The small, fast-flying brush dodger is annually Minnesota’s top upland bird in the bag. Harvest numbers range from 250,000 to 1 million. Ruffed grouse numbers follow a 10year population cycle which hunting pressure is not believed to influence. Ruffed grouse are considered a forest bird but they are also found near cropland. Wild turkey numbers in Minnesota have been increasing steadily and the big birds can be found in any direction from Wadena. During the 2010 spring hunt a record 13,467 birds were harvested — thanks largely to a 32 percent increase in permits. Giving youth age 17 and younger a chance to buy a permit over the counter this year resulted in a whopping 69 percent increase in their numbers over 2009, from 5024 to 8490 permits. Most of Wadena County is not in Minnesota’s pheasant range, but Todd County directly

Photos by Brian Hansel

Wild turkey numbers keep growing in the area.

to the south of Wadena County, along with southeastern Otter Tail, had fair numbers — 25-49 birds per square miles — for the 2009 season. When it comes to fishing, Wadena County depends heavily on its big neighbor to the west, Otter Tail. Otter Tail Lake is the biggest lake in the giant county and is a 20-mile drive for Wadena residents. “It’s known for walleye fishing,” Fergus Falls DNR fisheries manager Arlin Schalekamp said. “It’s considered one of the better walleye lakes in this part of the state for sure.” Otter Tail’s 13,000-acre size is impressive but the lake is also a natural for walleye reproduction. The DNR maintains a walleye fish hatchery on the Dead River adjacent to Otter Tail where Schalekamp and his people trap spawning walleyes from the big lake. The walleye eggs are stripped and raised in battery jars until they reach the fry stage. They are then transplanted directly into area lakes or into rearing ponds to be raised to the fingerling stage. In addition to walleye, Otter Tail is noted for its perch fishery and a growing sturgeon fishery. The sturgeon were transplanted into Otter Tail by Schalekamp’s DNR unit. “We are seeing fish up to 40 inches and we can see several different year classes,” Schalekamp said. “We are going to stock for several more years until a self-sustaining

Wadena County lies in some of the best deer hunting country in the state.

population is developed.” Otter Tail is a flowage lake connected to other strong fishing lakes like Rush, Big Pine and Little Pine by the Otter Tail River. Like Otter Tail, Rush and the Pine lakes are considered good walleye holes. The rest of Otter Tail County has roughly 1,000 lakes with fish populations and more than 100 public fishing accesses. In addition to walleye and perch, Otter Tail lakes offer large and smallmouth bass, sunfish, black crappies, northern pike, muskies and rainbow trout. A 35-mile trip north to Park Rapids brings anglers into Hubbard County’s lake region. Hubbard has both good fishing lakes and Lakes in nearby Otter Tail County draw many Wadena anglers. good trout streams.

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PJ Community Builder

Page 6 • August 28 2010

Wadena Pioneer Journal

Wadena: the park place BRIAN HANSEL

brianh@wadenapj.com

Wadena is out to wow you with her parks. From the lofty pines of Black’s Grove to the quiet waters of Sunnybrook Park the emphasis is on four-season variety. Black’s Grove is 3.6 miles west of Wadena on Minnesota Highway 29. The 7.1 kilometers of trails attract cross country skiers, hikers and horseback riders. The park was set to host a mountain bike race in late August. Black’s Grove includes two loops and two runs. The Alpine Loop is 2.7 kilometers and offers some challenging hills. Black’s Loop is two kilometers and is a favorite of beginners. At the north end of the park is the 1.6 kilometer Pit Run. Advanced skiers and conditioned hikers take this route. The smallest run is the .3 mile Ridge Run which runs along Oak Creek. Black’s Grove also has a picnic area dominated by a picnic shelter built with huge pine logs. The logs came from a straight line wind that hit the park several years ago. Sunnybrook Park at 1200 Harry-Rich Drive offers

Photos by Brian Hansel

Kelsey Huhta of Menahga and her brother, Devon, use their scooters at Northwest Park in Wadena.

overnight camping accommodations complete with 38 campsites, 20 full hookups, handicap accessible restrooms and showers, a dump station, laundry facilities and a camping chateau. Sunnybrook covers 78 acres in northeast Wadena and is open for camping from May 15 through Oct. 1. In addition to camping facilities, Sunnybrook offers a Children’s Zoo complete with peacocks, ducks, geese, golden pheasants, buffalo

BN Park is a favorite place for holding fundraisers such as the Rotary Corn and Chicken event in August.

and deer. Visitors can use the horseshoe pits, the frisbee golf course and play sand volleyball. There is also trout fishing for anglers under 16 and over 65 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The park is a hub for a 3.5 mile black-topped biking trail to Whitetail Run Golf Course. Five large picnic shelters dot the park and can be reserved. Tapley Park on the south side of Wadena at 617 Lincoln Avenue Southwest is another picnic area that is home to the Wadena Horseshoe League and has a playground, basketball court, soccer field and sand volleyball court. Tapley can also be reserved. Burlington Northern Park is located at 200 Aldrich Avenue Southwest in Wadena. The park is adjacent to Wadena’s busy railroad line and is dominated by stately trees and the old Wadena train depot, which is on the National Register of Historic Sunnybrook Park attacts many campers to Wadena in the Places. The park includes a summer months.

band shell, a picnic area, flowers and a fountain and can be reserved for special occaisons. The Rotary Corn and Chicken Fed and the Lion’s Barbecue is held there. The Southwest Athletic Field Complex at 310 Southwest Seventh Street was hit hard by the June 17 tornado, and the future of the facilities there has not been determined. There was opening skating, hockey ice rinks, playgrounds, basketball courts, open play area, a fenced, lighted ball field, soccer field, five lighted tennis and basketball courts and shelters. The Softball/Horseshoe Complex at 2701 Second Street Southwest has four fenced softball fields and is a magnet for kids in the summer. The complex also has competitive, lighted horseshoe pits, a shelter and a sliding hill called “Toby’s Mountain” in honor of councilman Toby Pierce, who proposed the fill from a sewer project be fashioned into a winter sliding hill

playground equipment, an open ball field, basketball courts and a shelter. “We have a lot of variety for a lot of different people,” Wadena public works director Ron Bucholz said. “We think we have something for every age group.”

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for kids. Northwest Park has a BMX bike racing area and a Skate Park. The fill for the BMX park was supplied by the city but the BMX track was designed by kids. The John Ehlen Playground at 716 Third Street Southeast offers swing sets,

Many area people enjoy cross country skiing at Black’s Grove.

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