Lacombe Athletic Park. History

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1 Lacombe Athletic Park The Mission of the Lacombe Athletic Park Association is to provide a First Class Facility for a minimum fee for the development of field sports and recreational activities to the citizens of Lacombe and surrounding area. History In 2003, recognizing a long time need for appropriate dressing room facilities for field sports at Lacombe Composite High School and community field sports, Fred Knip (community coach), Kevin Frank (Assistant Principal) and Jayson Lovell (Principal) initiated a plan to construct a Dressing Room Facility. It would take the form of an upscale type of garage package. However, with plans to renovate the Composite High School in the works and limitations on the use of school funds, this plan could not move forward. In 2006 at the request of the LCHS Parent Council interested parties from Lacombe Composite High School and the community, including Lacombe Minor Football, entered into conversations regarding the prospect of creating a new facility. A not for profit society, The Lacombe Athletic Park Association (LAPA), was incorporated (June 5 th 2009) The LAPA entered into negotiations with Wolf Creek Public School Division and the Town of Lacombe to secure a long term lease agreement for a proposed Athletic Facility. Consequently, the Town of Lacombe entered into a 40 year lease agreement with Wolf Creek Public Schools for land on the east side of the high school property. With the lease in place a project plan was developed to build an athletic facility to include a Field House, Bleachers, Field Lighting and the installation of an all weather playing field surface. Under the guidance of Fred Knip (Chair of LAPA), Wayne Gustafson (Project Manager) and Darren Gagnon (Marketing and fundraising) the project became a reality. LAPA entered into a Lease Agreement with the Town of Lacombe to operate and manage the Lacombe Athletic Park. In 2011 MEGlobal is given naming rights to Lacombe Athletic Park. The First Phase (Field House, Lights and Bleachers) was completed in the fall of 2010 at a cost of 1.8 million dollars plus many hours of volunteer work in kind. This phase was made possible by the generosity of many sponsorships and donations. The primary contributors were: MEGlobal, EnCana, Lacombe County, City of Lacombe, Wolf Creek Public School Division, Lacombe Ford, North Side Construction, Phase 3 Electric, Scott Builders, Bruin s Plumbing and Williams Engineering. The Completion of Phase 1 was highlighted by LAPA hosting the Canadian National Senior Men s Football Championship Game between Lloydminster and Ste Sault Marie. In the spring of 2011, LAPA entered into a five year agreement with the University of Calgary Dinosaurs to host spring development camps and play an annual University Game at MeGlobal Park in August. The 2011 season was culminated with the Lacombe Explosion Peewee football team winning a first ever for Lacombe a Provincial Football Championship.

2 The Lacombe Athletic Park Association entered into a lease agreement with the Town of Lacombe to manage and operate the Lacombe Athletic Park. This agreement defined support from the Town including the amount of the annual operating grant, and park maintenance (mowing of grass and sweeping of Artificial Turf). The Field House was constructed by Scott Builders with Ram Alumni Gary Picket as the construction manager. The Bleachers were erected by Rams Football Alumni from the 50 s, 60 s, 70 and 80 s. The fencing of the park and sidewalks were put by the City. The Kiosk was built in 2013 by volunteers Lucus Wessner and Matthew Gustafson and supervised by Don Gustafson. In November of 2011, ground was broken for Phase 3 of the project which is the installation of an all weather playing surface at an estimated cost of 1.5 million dollars plus many hour of work in kind by the Lacombe Composite High School and Minor Football Bantam Football Clubs. The Club s major contribution was the rolling out and stretching the filed turf carpet. The Field Turf was installed by ASTRO TURF out of Vancouver, BC. The spring of 2012 will see MeGlobal Park become the home for six Football Teams, Field Lacrosse, Soccer, High School Athletics and numerous Community functions. In 2017 under the direction of Murray Cunningham LAPA retained Scott Builders to construct an official sized outdoor basketball court with four side hoops at a cost of $180,000. The basketball court features a FIBA regulation main court and two cross courts complete with lines and glass backboards. The facility also has lines for Pickle Ball. The court officially opened on Canada Day 2017 with a 3 on 3 tournament. The construction of the facility was made possible the generosity of the City of Lacombe (Community Builder Partnership Grant), Lacombe County, DBBobat, Lacombe Physiotherapy Clinic, Scott Builders, LAPA and work in kind by the Lacombe Minor Basketball players. PREFERRED USER GROUPS: In the process of building the field house and the installation of artificial turf the Board identified groups because of their commitment and contribution to build the park and be ongoing active L.A.P.A. members were identified as groups (Lacombe Minor Football, LCHS (High School), and Central Alberta Buccaneers) to be given Preferred User s Status. This status meant that they would be given priority when booking, and a special rental rate based on conditions of use.

3 BOARD of DIRECTORS: The Lacombe Athletic Park Association is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of ten elected Directors at large, past Chairperson and three appointed members (City of Lacombe, Lacombe County and Wolf Creek School Board). 2009: Fred Knip (Chairman), Kevin Frank (vice Chair), Mike Lowry (Secretary/Treasurer), Darren Gagnon (Marketing), Troy Gillard, Wayne Gustafson, Neil Harker 2010: Fred Knip (Chairman), Kevin Frank (Vice Chair), Mike Lowry (Secretary/Treasurer) Daren Gagnon (Marketing), Neil Harker (Property) Directors: Wayne Gustafson, Troy Gillard, Melody Jones, Jeff Zacharias, Phil Lodermeir, Mike Wood, Jason Petrie, Neil Harker, Don Gustafson 2011: Fred Knip (Chairman), Kevin Frank (Vice Chair), Wayne Gustafson (Secretary/Treasurer), Darren Gagnon (Marketing) and directors Kyle Liptak, Jason Petrie (High School), Melody Jones, Jayson Lovell (Wolf Creek), Sandi Stewart (City), Phil Lodermeir (County), Mike Lowry, Mike Wood (Minor Football) and Jeff Zacharias(Minor Soccer), Don Gustafson, Executive Director Dee Zunte 2012: Fred Knip (Past Chair), Don Gustafson (Chair), Kevin Frank (Vice Chair), Murray Cunningham (Secretary/ Treasurer), Darren Gagnon (Marketing), Neil Harker (Property), and Directors, Melody Jones, Kyle Liptak, Harlem Hippe, Riley Quance, Mike Wood, Phil Lodermeir, Sandi Stewart, Jason Lovell Kyle Liptak, Jeff Zacharias, Lorrie Dupuis, Executive Director De Zunte 2013: Don Gustafson (Past Chair), Darren Gagnon (Chair) Gary McDonald (Vice Chair), Murray Cunningham (Secretary/Treasurer), Matt Panelli (Marketing, Neil Harker (Property),Directors Sandi Stewart, Phil Lodermeir, Sean Lougheed, Riley Quance, Mike Wood, Duane Brown, Melody Jones, Lorrie Dupuis, Executive Director Jamie Figursky 2014: Darren Gagnon (Past Chair), Gary McDonald (Chairman), Murray Cunningham (Secretary Treasurer), Matt Panelli (Marketing), Neil Harker (Property), Directors Sandi Stewart, Phil Lodermeir, Sean Lougheed, Chris Watts, Duane Brown, Matthew Edwards, Tyler Graham, Executive Director Ellen Corea, Jamie Figursky, Riley Quance 2015: Don Gustafson (Past Chair), Shelly Gray (Chair), Murray Cunningham (Vice Chair), Tyler Graham (Secretary Treasurer, Neil Harker (Property) Matthew Edwards (Marketing), Directors Chantelle Lembicz, Wayne Haarstad, Sandi Stewart, Phil Lodermeir, Sean Lougheed, Riley Quance, Darren Berg, Charles Lasouski, Executive Director Hayma Mackenzie

4 2016: Shelly Gray (Past Chair), Murray Cunningham (Chair), Darren Berg (Vice Chair) Tyler Graham (Secretary Treasurer), Charles Lasouski (Marketing), Neil Harker (Property), Gary McDonald (Human Resources) Directors Jason Petrie Jason Petrie, Mike Wilkinson, Andrea Taylor, Phil Lodermeir, Sandi Stewart, Sean Lougheed, Marketing Director Darrin Thompson, Admin. Asst. Don Gustafson 2017: Murray Cunningham (Past Chair), Darren Berg (Chair), Wayne Haarstad (Vice Chair), Gary McDonald (Secretary /Treasurer, Human Resources) Neil Harker (Property), Charles Lasouski (Marketing), Directors Jason Petri, Mike Wilkinson, Jason, Lunn, Darren Gagnon, Phil Lodermeir, Sean Lougheed, Sandi Stewart, Marketing Director Darrin Thompson, Admin. Asst. Don Gustafson PART TIME STAFF: The Lacombe Athletic Park Association manages the park with the assistance of the following part time staff. Facility Manager: Fred Knip, 2016 Present Marketing Director: Darrin Thompson, 2016 present Custodian and Concession Manager: Ditta Knip, 2016 Present Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper: Don Gustafson, 2016 present PARK FUNDING: The Lacombe Athletic Park Association is primarily funded from the following sources: City of Lacombe operating grant Lacombe County operating grant MEGlobal field naming rights Community donations User fees Fundraising

5 SPECIAL EVENTS and USERS: Dino Football Camps: Hosted Football Development Camps 2012, 2013, 2014 National Senior Men s Football Championship: Hosted National Championship game in November 2012 C.I.S. Football Game 2012 Hosted U of Calgary / U of Alberta exhibition football game Provincial Minor Lacrosse Championships 2015 Hosted 64 teams at different levels and ages GALA: The Annual GALA was started under the leadership of Darren Gagnon and the 2012 Board of Directors Have hosted GALA from 2012 to the present time as a major fund raiser averaging about $35, per year net revenue Canada Day 150: MEGlobal Athletic Park was the host of a community Canada Day 150 Celebration which featured: o Pancake breakfast for approximately 2800 patrons o A Kid Zone o Community Market o Local Music Artists o Beer Garden o Large 50/50 o Closed the day with a Gord Bamford Concert followed by fire works The day saw an estimated 10,000 plus people come through the gates to take in the various events The day was organized under the leader ship of a committee of Darren Gagnon, Wayne Haarstad, Murray Cunningham and Don Gustafson The event was a success due the support of following key volunteers and groups : o Neil Harker, Gary McDonald, Wayne Gustafson, Tammy Gagnon, Charles Lasouski, Darren Berg, George Seibel, Darren Thompson, Fred Knip, Dita Knip, Jason Lunn, Jason Petrie, Nadine Cunningham

6 o Big Brothers and Sisters, Lacombe 4H, First Lacombe Scouts, Lacombe Minor Football, Lacombe Rams Football Team, Blackfalds Wranglers Hockey Team, Senior Men s Buccaneers Football Team o DBBobcat, Lacombe Ford employees, MNP employees, North Group Businesses, Phase three electric, Scott Builders, Lacombe Police Department, Lacombe Fire Department o City of Lacombe, Lacombe County, Dow Chemicals, Castle Building Supplies, Shaw Communications, Gish Law Office, Servus Credit Union, Sim s Insurance, AFSC, red Deer and District Foundation, Lacombe Physio, MNP, Lacombe Ford, Ford Quicklane High School Football: Lapa to host Alberta Schools Athletic Association s high school provincial on November 24 th and 25 th., 2017 Event to include all levels of football including both 6 man and 12 man for a total of 5 games over two days of competitions Due to the closure of Great Chief Park in Red Deer all 2016 and 2017 all season City League and playoff games were played at MEGlobal Minor Football: Midget Football: Lacombe Athletic Park is home to Senior Men s, High School, Bantam, PeeWee and Atom football teams Since 2012 MEGlobal has been home the Prairie Fire Midget Football Club The Shock Midget Football Club has used MEGlobal Park on a part time basis

7 Other Users and Activities: Field Lacrosse Six Man Football High School Rugby Soccer Bill Nelson Run Flag Football Community Church Service World Largest Christmas Tree Inter Provincial Midget Football Border Bowl Red Deer City Schools