Sartell-Area Lions Clubs Begin Phase II Campaign for Lions Park Improvements

(KNSI) – The Sartell-area Lions Clubs have begun a campaign for more improvements at Lions Park on Pinecone Road.

The playground was redone in 2023 to be fully inclusive, but other amenities have not kept up. Phase II would add an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant restroom to the venue. President Stu Giffin says the club’s efforts got a big boost from LeSauk Township, which had previously set aside funds to build another park.

When plans fell through, the township had to find a new way to repurpose those funds while still spending them in a way consistent with the initial intent. Giffin states, “They had their annual meeting in April of this year, and the residents of LaSauk Township at that meeting voted to donate the entire sum of $30,000 to the Lions to further complement our playground and park.”

The park actually traces its roots back to 2005. Sartell Lions Park’s transformation began with the installation of a trail for the blind, the brainchild of Sartell Lions Club Chairperson Mike Deluca. He says from the start, it was a team effort. “In the beginning, we had 19 Lions clubs in the area donate money, and then another 14 Lions clubs came in and helped us do work in-kind.”

Every fundraising campaign since has drawn upon that initial cooperative model.

The trail was immensely popular and eventually became a haven for people with all kinds of disabilities. Sartell Lions member Phil Ringstrom says the site is the focal point for the club. “This is kind of our heart, the pulse of our club.”

Talking to visitors spurred the group to make the playground fully inclusive. Volunteers and staff with the city have turned the area nearest Pinecone Road into a neatly kept garden. Eventually, the club hopes to install a shelter large enough to fit wheelchair accessible picnic tables. And, even then, more plans will be drawn up to improve the six-acre parcel.

The campaign for Phase II was launched at the Sartell Bike Rodeo held at the park. Ringstrom notes an outing is scheduled on June 16th at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course to raise money.

You can make a check payable to The Waters Church with Sartell Lions Bathroom in the memo line to donate. There is an online option through GoFundMe. The link is here.

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