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Local family to donate land for future sports park

The name Pogadl will forever be immortalized on the fields of a future sports park in Sylvan Lake following a generous land donation
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COMMUNITY DONATION - (L-R) Jas Payne

The name Pogadl will forever be immortalized on the fields of a future sports park in Sylvan Lake following a generous land donation from three local sisters - Marlis Hansen, Monica Sylvester and Marcine Woyke in memory of their parents Ed and Glenda Pagodl.

Monday evening at a regular meeting, Council formally acknowledged the generous donation of 20 acres of land for the future sports park. The current landowners and family of Ed and Glenda Pogadl, have stated that in memory oftheir parents, they wish to donate 20 acres of land located on the west side of 60th street to the Town for future recreation purposes.

This gracious donation has lead the way for the Town to now proceed with plans to purchase an additional surrounding 60 acres to ensure sufficient land set aside for the presented conceptual design, which includes four baseballdiamonds, two soccer fields, one multi-use turf field, a cricket pitch, volleyball courts, hockey/basketball court, special events green space, field house, and a 25 stall RV camping facility.

“This is such an exciting day; we’re moving forward to ensure we have a suitable location for a future recreation park, and we’re doing so with the amazing spirit and generosity of the Pogadl family,” said Mayor Sean McIntyre. “It’s so exciting to see them commemorating their community. The Pagodl family have made so many other contributions to Sylvan Lake and I think this is a great way to acknowledge them and their many contributions in a long lasting memorial.”

While a Memorandum of Understanding has yet to be signed, a formal signing event is to be planned, and the Town expects to pay the land seller a negotiated price of $20,000 per acre for the remaining 60 acres required.

The identification of a new location for baseball diamonds, was a key goal within Council’s Strategic Plan, and the need for a new sports park, and field house was identified in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Councillor Dale Plante, who is now sitting on his second term in Council added that discussion of a future sports park in Sylvan Lake began nearly six years ago.

“I’m just super excited that we are moving forward on this and to be able to see what this will do for recreation. Thank you to everyone for their work on this,” said Councillor Plante.

Councillor Jas Payne, who has been a coach of various local sports teams during his time in Sylvan Lake explained Pagodl Park will leave a lasting legacy on sport and recreation in the community.

“Having been a coach in this town for as long as I have been here, I can already see my team on the field,” said Payne.

editor@sylvanlakenews.com