Story on Britson Park Athletic Complex

A chili cookoff fundraiser is the kickoff for the start of the construction of the new Britson Park & Athletic Complex in west Roland. The Roland Park Board has developed plans for the new park which will provide a venue for fun and competition for years to come.
Britson Park was born in 2009 when the Britson family sold seven acres of land to the City of Roland for $13,000, which is substantially below the market value of seven acres of farmland. With that deal, the park was to be named for the Britson family. The park is just to the west of Britson Circle and to the southeast of the Roland Industrial Park.
The Britson family has been a part of Roland since before Roland was even a town. The Sjur Britson family was one of the original 12 families that settled what is now Roland back in 1856.
Jump ahead 155 years, and the Roland and Story City communities have seen a large interest in adult softball, and youth baseball, softball, soccer and football. Existing fields in the two communities have seen a large uptick in usage, and so the Roland Park Board decided to put the new Britson Park to use in relieving the strain on field time.
Initial conversations between the Roland Park Board and Roland City Council involved first using and grading the land to help prevent localized flooding during rain events. The City Council also authorized a new road through the southwest side of the park, which will provide quick access to the park, as well as providing an alternate outlet for the Logan Street neighborhood. In the spring of 2011, the land for the park was flattened, with a slope to a drainage swale.
In the meantime, the Park Board worked on the layout for the fields and playground equipment. Initially, the park will have two youth baseball/softball fields, as well as flat fields for use for soccer or football. There is also a concession stand/restroom and playground area. There will be parking for 25-30 cars on the north side of the park, with an entrance off Maple Street, and an additional parking area with an entrance off Arthur Drive.
The park will have two youth baseball/softball fields initially on the west side of the park, and there is room for a third, should usage continue to grow. With the two fields in Erickson Park on the east side of town, this also opens up the possibility of holding larger youth tournaments, and the crowds that accompany them.
The youth groups that will be using the fields have various amounts of money to help with completion of the park. The Park Board is also hopeful to obtain various grants to apply toward park infrastructure. But for the remainder, reaching out for donations and doing fundraising will finish off the job.
The Park Board hopes to start on parking lot work yet this fall, with field construction beginning in the spring of 2012. This will lead to availability of soccer and football practice in the fall of 2012, and baseball/softball in the spring of 2013.
To finish the project, from all sources will need about $150,000, with a lesser amount needed with volunteer labor for construction of the concession stand, dugouts, and landscaping. Donors contributing $100 or more can get a 4x8” brick with their name on it, to be placed on a walkway near the concession stand. $200 or more donors can get a 8x8” brick.
The kickoff fundraiser will be a Chili Cookoff on Saturday, November 19, from 5 to 8PM at the Roland Middle School. Confirmed celebrity judges are the Roland Rocket himself, Gary Thompson, Iowa State Head Softball Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler, and Roland-Story Middle School Principal John Sheahan.
You can come to sample chili, or even better, enter your own in the contest. There will also be a silent auction, and sports related games and contests for the kids.
For more details on the Britson Park & Athletic Complex, how to donate, or details on entering your favorite chili, go to britsonpark.org.