The Crow River News reported an update to the Settler's Park ball field redesign. In spite of City Administrator Hagen's enthusiasm for the project being on schedule, we struck a blow to their initial time table thanks to our efforts to reach out to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. The important thing here is that the trees remain standing and concerned citizens should work together to keep it that way! What the proponents of this project fail to comprehend is that the current ball fields in Settler's Park exist to enhance the park. The park shouldn't exist to enhance the ball fields. The 2 smaller ball fields are perfect for the younger children who are enrolled in the Hanover Youth Baseball programs. The existence of a large ball field to accommodate U16 baseball players and adult softball players in the proposed location endangers children in the playground and park attendees utilizing the shaded area adjacent to the park shelter. One of the provisions of the 50 year lease agreement that the Athletic Association insisted upon, was that the Hanover Athletic Association was to assume the liability associated with the field. If this project is allowed to be completed, that liability will revert back to the City of Hanover. Is it really worth the risk? Ask your city leaders exactly how the Athletic Association intends to follow through with the funding. If the Athletic Association can "free will" give money to the city, they can just as easlily "free will" take it away! They could conceivably hold the city and taxpayers of Hanover hostage by withholding future maintenance funding should some future disagreement arise between both parties. Without a lease agreement, the city is highly vulnerable. The powers that be have chosen to ignore both an on-line and written petition, their own 2016 Park Board Survey results, and the city's comprehensive plan which doesn't even address a redesigned ball field in Settler's Park. How much more wrong can this project possibly be? The Hanover Historical Society remains firmly committed to our opposition to this project. One of our 2017 goals is to make every reasonable effort to save the trees in Settler's Park. It is environmentally irresponsible to destroy at least 5, and possibly as many as 12, perfectly healthy 150-200 year old trees in a bur oak grove that predates the city of Hanover, for 1 baseball field when other viable options are available. Once they're gone, nothing will bring them back. Please contact Mayor Kauffman, Hanover City Hall and the Athletic Association members and provide them with your opinions. Attend the Park Board, Planning Commission and City Council meetings and let them know you're opposed to this poorly planned, ill advised, and extremely unpopular project. Michael Kehn President Hanover Historical Society