Council to consider land donation

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May 18, 2007

<b>Proponents concede many details of proposed recreation area still to be worked out</b>

by Kelly Hawes Pharos-Tribune Fri May 18, 2007, 10:37 AM EDT

Dave Workman says the whole thing started as a conversation between friends.

Workman, who runs LPL Financial Services, said he sand Brian Morrill, president of Cass County Title, were walking their dogs together, and they were talking about the kinds of athletic facilities available in Logansport.

“We were talking about the things we’d seen in other cities, and we said somebody needs to do something here,” he said.

That conversation led to other conversations, and somebody made contact with the Mike Huston family, which owns 80 acres north of the Eel River near the center of town.

“We started talking to them about 20 acres, and they got back with us and said they might be willing to donate the whole 80,” Workman recalled.

Workman noted that he and the others involved in the project had been labeled a development group in a news story concerning their efforts.

“I would hate for anybody to get the idea that anyone might be trying to make a profit off of this,” he said. “We’re just friends trying to make something good happen for the city.”

Workman and the others started the discussion talking about sports fields, but now they’re looking at a multi-phase project that could include softball and soccer fields, basketball, volleyball, tennis courts, trails and maybe an amphitheater.

At a committee meeting of the city council on Thursday afternoon, Morrill conceded that all the project amounted to at this point was bare ground.

“It’s not clearly into focus yet,” he said, but he added, “We need to find a way to make this work.”

Morrill and Workman plan to meet next week with a group of community leaders. In the meantime, the city’s park board has given its director, Jan Fawley, approval to begin applying for grants. Fawley noted that the land, appraised at $480,000, could be used as a local match.

“The grants are out there,” she said.

Council members agreed to consider the gift at their next regular meeting June 4. Those gathered for Thursday’s meeting seemed inclined to move ahead.

Councilman Scott Kraud said the city could figure out the details of how to develop the complex later. First, he said, it needed to gratefully accept the gift of land.

“This opportunity doesn’t present itself every year,” he said.

Mayor Mike Fincher said it might not be possible to develop the complex quickly.

“We might have to systematically work in baby steps,” he said. “You might take a million small steps to move one foot.”

Workman agreed that the project might not come together overnight.

“This really has a chance to grow into something,” he said. “It gives us a chance to dream.”

Kelly Hawes can be reached at (574) 732-5155 or kelly.hawes@pharostribune.com

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Council to consider land donation

<b>Proponents concede many details of proposed recreation area still to be worked out</b>

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