Councilman William Gafford Thursday questioned the need for further improvement of Johnson Park in 1974, saying, “Baseball is dead.”

He favored instead improving softball facilities around town. The point was the only one which engendered much heat at a City Council budget meeting.

Gafford asked how many people participate or watch the baseball games. He questioned spending $20,000 to $30,000 over a few years on a baseball field when softball fields such as the one at North Park need developing.

Mayor Carl Wyczawski said crowds at Johnson Park average 200. He said baseball teams have paid for lighting for their games right along while softball teams have never paid. He said the baseball teams come from the immediate farm and trade area while some of the softball teams come from large towns outside the trade area.

Gafford said, “We have more people down at West Side Park any night than at Johnson.”

He said when he walks down to West Side all the neighbors “give me hell” and ask when the softball situation will be improved. He said presently at West Side beer cans are thrown all around during softball games.

++

City Manager Richard Salvati explained some details of the $42,211 proposed for 1974 parks capital outlay, the category the council was questioning.

He said $3,367 for park furniture would buy 12 picnic tables, two portable bleacher sections and several pieces of adolescent playground equipment. He said a good portion of this would be for North and Market Parks.

North Park, four square blocks at 17th N. and State, is currently being developed. The 1973 budget allocated $7,000 for installation of a lighted softball field, which is to be completed this year. The 1974 budget proposes $5,000 for further improvements of North Park.

Market Park, one block at 14th N. and German, is city-owned land to which the city has been adding fill. Salvati said there is now enough fill to start development of the park. The 1974 budget proposes $2,500 for such development.

Salvati said $8,094 for park equipment, up from $4,900 in 1973, would cover an additional utility low-boy tractor for mowing,spreading insecticides-herbicides and blowing snow.

The city already has two such tractors and councilmen seemed to think that was enough since the machines can be driven from park to park for use.

Salvati said the addition of North and Market Parks would call for the additional tractor. He said using the tractors is much faster than using small mowers and listed the several parks needing mowing: German, Riverside, Johnson, Junior Pioneer, (occasionally), West Side (constantly), Lincoln, Washington, North, Market.

Council said they wanted to ask Park and Recreation Director Larry Kobs about the need for the additional tractor.

Salvati said the $10,500 proposed for Johnson Field Park improvements would include $2,000 for eight-foot chain link fence on the south and east sides of the football field, and $8,500 for sprinkling system in baseball field like one in football field plus three sections of bleachers under the canopy.

Other capital outlay items proposed for 1974 in the park fund are $250 for South Park improvements and $12,500 for replacement of one of the very dilapidated but heavily-used shelters at Hermann Heights Park.

Salvati noted the five-year-old pool heater just recently overheated and burned out. He said this was not included in his proposed 1974 budget.

After kicking around the park proposal for awhile council adjourned to next Thursday with instructions to Salvati to have Kobs on hand to “testify.”

Council will also discuss parking meter, police, recreation, sewer, street and bond sinking and bond interest funds next Thursday.

++

IN OTHER BUDGET items, Jack Lindsay, a member of the Concord Singers, modeled the new jacket the group wants to order for all members.

Gray with forest green trim including delicate stitching around pockets and a narrow rolled collar, the jackets will be hand-tailored from measurements sent over to Germany if the council approves a city contribution.

The singers are asking the council to contribute $1,500 towards the jacket; this would be in addition to the regular $2,000 they got in 1973.

The singing group will raise the balance of the $3,000-plus cost through sales of their record. They have already sold over half the 750 original printing and have paid off a $1,500 bank note. The jackets plus trousers will cost $150 per set. No decision was made by council.

Councilmen learned certain New Ulm Battery members ordered special saddles at a cost of $2,000 without getting it approved and budgeted first by the council. Since the city is sponsor of the battery the bill would be up to the city to pay. This matter will be considered further at a future council meeting.

New Ulm Daily Journal, Sept. 7, 1973