Sticha Park opens in grand style

Lonsdale’s parks have been a priority for the Lonsdale City Council for years, with many of them seeing upgrades, new play equipment, trails and even a pavilion over the summer. On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the city held a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Sticha Park, Industrial Drive, in celebration of the many improvements the park has seen over the past few months. 

Mayor Tim Rud spoke at the event under the new pavilion, thanking the Sticha family for their generous contributions, the Lonsdale Park & Rec. Board for planning, and public works, City Planner Benjamin Baker, and City Administrator Joel Erickson for their efforts. The Sticha family land was set aside as park land years ago, and has been primarily used for girls softball. Two years ago, a sand volleyball court was added along with several trees. 

“Parks are utilized to the maximum in Lonsdale,” Rud said. “The park board had the vision to build a nice pavilion here and did so with a generous donation from the Sticha family.”

The Stichas donated monetary funds toward the construction of the new pavilion, and in addition, new play equipment, a drinking fountain, and off-street parking were added. Rud said in the near future, the compost site just east of the park will be moved to the back of the new business park at St. Hwy. 19 and Garfield Ave., and that area may be transformed into soccer fields. 

Rud added that other parks in Lonsdale were also seeing improvements, and just recently, the city learned they would be receiving an $81,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for trails and walking paths. He said that money would be used for completing the trail that runs behind Generation Home & Building Center that will cross St. Hwy. 19, as well as a section connecting downtown to Trenda Memorial Field (DRS).