Pickleball fundraising surpasses $200k

By Robert Williams

Editor

Pickleball funds, moving Turkey Days to June and increasing membership were the three main topics of the annual meeting of the Frazee Area Community Club Thursday, March 19, at the Event Center.  ¶  Three new board members were also added: Police Chief Tyler Trieglaff, Owner of Mama’s Pizzeria N’ Scoops Sara Erickson, and Owner of The Monarch Heather Perrine.  ¶  The board added a board member after losing two.  ¶  “We had a very busy year, said President Tom Watson. “Hopefully, it’s going to continue on.”  ¶  Watson recognized the current members of the board: Rachael Johnson, Dani Ketter, Jamie Crabtree, Danita Ketter, Sharon Trieglaff Jons, Jackie Lucca, Madison Olson, Brikker Ware, Ashley Renollet and Jenn Winn.  ¶  “We are in dire need of members so we can do what we need to do to get stuff done this summer,” said Watson. “We need help with our projects.” 

For more information on joining the club visit frazeecommunityclub.com and use the Join drop-down menu.

Miss Frazee 2024 and Pickleball Fundraising Organizer Madison Olson made one of the biggest announcements of the evening informing the crowd of 40 guests that fundraising efforts have reached $206,804.60 of the $282,000 goal. Olson announced the beginning of the fundraising for the project at last year’s Community Club annual meeting.

“To have this much progress in a year is pretty cool,” she said. “We are very proud of that and we are a very small committee.”

Hopes are for construction to be completed by mid-summer with a possible event scheduled during Turkey Days if the timeline allows.

The committee is in the final push to complete fundraising. Those who would like to donate can do so at www.frazeecommunityclub.com. There is a large, yellow donation button for the project on the top of the homepage.

Jamie Crabtree discussed the success of last year’s Turkey Days and after organizing the event last year, Crabtree recommended doubling the total number of organizers from two to four people for this year’s Chair Caitlin Breitenfeldt.

“She’s got a good group and it looks like they have it locked down and the planning is going very strong,” Crabtree said.

Those who would like to volunteer during this year’s event or get more information can visit the next Turkey Days committee meeting at CornerStone Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m.

Later in the meeting, Watson discussed moving Turkey Days from late July to late June to avoid conflicts with other area events like county fairs in Detroit Lakes and Perham. 

Demo derbies are also difficult to hold with demos at both county fairs not allowing enough time for repairs to allow cars to compete in Frazee. The demo is typically the final event of Turkey Days week on Sunday afternoon and evening, while the fairs hold their demos before that date.

Initial inquiries with demo participants on their preferred date change revealed the last weekend in June, which is available on the club’s survey. 

The community club is going to survey residents until this year’s event with preferred options of particular weekends in June for the move. The three-question survey will be available at the community club’s website and on social media. Surveys will also be available via QR code on flyers placed around town.

“The only other logical weekend we thought of was that last weekend of June,” said Crabtree. “Where nothing, around here, is really going on.”

Historically, Turkey Days has been held mostly in late July and as late as Aug. 14, according to Watson.

Watson spoke on planned amenities to be added to Wannigan Regional Park later this year—a $1.2 million project to add water, a sewage system, bathrooms and campgrounds, and a natural playground. Construction is planned for late summer after Turkey Days.

Watson also reviewed last year’s additions, including the 2.15-mile walking/biking trail, and solar lighting on the trail. Plans are also to add 6,000 trees to the park this year.

“Wannigan Park is an asset to Frazee,” said Watson. “Last year, we had 37,500 people visit. There are a lot of exciting things going on out there.”  

Watson is head of maintenance at the park and also spoke about his interactions with people from around the world and noted that unexpectedly the covered bridge and the cleanliness of the Otter Tail River are talked about more than Jacob Everear the Troll.

“We have the cleanest water in the Red River basin,” said Watson. “That’s something we can be proud of.”

City council liaison to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) Andrea Froeber spoke about EDA’s goals for the year, including: adding at least one new business on the east side of Main; promoting downtown businesses and continuing to find space for more housing.

Froeber also encouraged both members and residents to support the city and Frazee Community Development Corporation’s funding request for $1.85 million to support water/sewer/road infrastructure to connect from Highway 29 to Wannigan Regional Park down to State Highway 87.  

This is a significant need to develop infrastructure and access to the park safely and to plan for future expansion. It is important that the Capital Investment Committee hears from residents on why Frazee deserves this funding. Bonding on funding at the legislature is tight this year and every contact is critical. 

Information on who and how to contact, along with a sample message to send are available at the bottom of the homepage at www.wanniganpark.com. Click on the Support State Bonding Request button.

Relative bills were authored by Rep. Krista Knudsen and Sen. Paul Utke.

CornerStone Executive Director Mackenzie Hamm gave an update on grant money available for community art projects and performers that are available. She also spoke about the family resource center side of the non-profit and future plans for a possible building expansion.

Shelly Blauert discussed putting together the request for proposals for the downtown mural that was installed downtown last December. A donor board will be added to the art installation to recognize donors. The mural was funded by the Frazee Community Club’s $100 club.

A future mural is planned for the wall between the former bowling alley and Sting Nutrition.

Blauert also discussed the Artists on Main program, a Lake Region Arts Council and West Central Initiative, which will provide different art events for kids and adults.

Karin Pederson spoke about partnering with Vergas to benefit both towns on future projects.

“There are two small communities and I just don’t feel like we know each other that well and I think there are a lot of ways the two towns can work together more,” she said.

Pederson also noted she is currently residing in Detroit Lakes and is waiting for housing opportunities in Frazee.

Mayor Mike Sharp discussed recent progress in Frazee, the people who contributed to those efforts and things that need to occur to benefit the city into the future, namely: supporting the FCDC and Wannigan Park development; the state bonding request, the addition of quality rental housing and ordinance enforcement. Sharp also thanked Watson for his many efforts as the Frazee Community Club president.

The meeting concluded with a brainstorming session to explore ideas on what would make Frazee a better place to live, events people would like to see and additions around town like  posted information on the covered bridge at Wannigan Park.