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W <br /> erstarnews.com http://erstarnews.com/2014/01/09/city-names-athletic-complex-after-unparalleled-volunteer/ <br /> CC City names athletic complex after `unparalleled' volunteer <br /> > By Joni Astrup <br /> O <br /> U by Joni Astrup <br /> Q Associate Editor <br /> W <br /> For the past three decades, Dave Anderson has spent countless hours improving Elk River's park and recreation <br /> G C system. <br /> His volunteer efforts were recognized Monday, when the Elk River City Council voted to rename the Orono Athletic <br /> Complex the Dave Anderson Athletic Complex. <br /> Anderson said the next day that it is an honor to have a park named after him. <br /> Then he joked: "It's quite an honor just to be considered, let alone have a park named after you when you're not <br /> dead." <br /> The 12-acre athletic complex is located at 13300 Business <br /> Center Dr., near Orono Park, and has four lighted <br /> softball/baseball fields. <br /> The renaming came out of the blue for Anderson. Mayor T <br /> John Dietz had requested that the athletic complex be �... <br /> renamed after Anderson. Dietz said he would be hard- r . <br /> pressed to find a person who has volunteered more hours for <br /> the city. } <br /> Asked what has driven his years of volunteerism,Anderson �' <br /> said "It's really who you are and where you came from." <br /> He said he watched his grandparents and his parents all take <br /> an active role in the community. <br /> Dave Anderson,speaking at the opening of Bailey Point Nature <br /> After Anderson began working on park and recreation Preserve in Elk River last year.Also pictured is Mayor John Dietz. <br /> projects, he said it turned into a passion, fueled by a desire Star News file photo <br /> to leave something for the future. <br /> "Our community is full of volunteers, and we all put our efforts into where our passions lie," he said. "Mine have gone <br /> from running ball leagues and coaching youth sports to doing adult softball to now, more sedate things like (restoring) <br /> prairies and trail building and cross-country skiing." <br /> He said he likes making the community better and has found that it's a lot of fun. <br /> Elk River Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker described Anderson's contributions as "tremendous and <br /> unparalleled." <br /> Hecker said Anderson has spent the past 30 years volunteering thousands of hours creating, improving and <br /> maintaining Elk River's park system.Anderson's volunteer resume is nine pages long. <br /> Anderson has been instrumental in many things, including the development of the Orono Athletic Complex that now <br />