I see that we're getting back into the DeLaSalle vs. Parks debate. I'd
like to ask whether the words "& Recreation" have been dropped from the
name of the "Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board?" If not, then I
have difficulty figuring out what the complaint is about the Minneapolis
Park AND RECREATION Board trying to build athletic fields anywhere on
its land. It seems to me that it is within its legitimate interest to
build new recreation areas. And, in trying to work out a deal with
DeLaSalle, it seems to me that it is trying to work out a win/win
solution. Sure, DeLaSalle gets something that it didn't have before but
so does the Park AND RECREATION Board. Namely, it gets fields for
recreation that it didn't have before and those fields are going to be
available to the public. If anyone wants to argue that the public must
get more time on the fields or that DeLaSalle must pay more, that's
fair. But to say that there may be not change in the use of the land is
just NIMBY.
I'm also disturbed by the regular mention that DeLaSalle is a Catholic
facility. It seems to me that anyone can make an issue over whether ANY
public/private deal is sufficiently in the public interest. But the
fact that it is Catholic, or even religious, is absolutely irrelevant
from the debate. If it were relevant, then the religious affiliation of
all those who rent land on Nicollet Island from the Park AND RECREATION
Board would also be relevant. But, it wasn't relevant then and it's
still not relevant now. So, please, lets keep the debate on the issue
of whether a public/private deal is sufficiently in the public interest
and forget the religious overtones.
Steve Cross
Prospect Park
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