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Sarah Woodworth 19513 Elgin St. NW Elk River, MN 55330 July10,2019 Mayor John Dietz City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 Re: Elk River Softball Fields Greetings Mayor Dietz, JUL 15 2019 My name is Sarah Woodworth (Fritz) and I'm writing to you in response to an article that was published in the Elk River Star News on June 29, 2019. The article was regarding the decision made between the school district and the city of Elk River agreeing to swap ownership of the softball fields next to the ice arena to move the Elk River High School softball fields to Lion's Park. I am not writing to offer any negative comments or feedback. As a resident of Elk River and a parent of children who play softball and hockey I am in full support. I am writing to you to make a small request regarding the Elk River High School Varsity Softball field when the fields are moved. My Dad, Joe Fritz, passed away unexpectedly in 1996. He was a long-time supporter of Elk River athletics, but specifically the Elk River High School Softball team and the recreational teams through the Elk River Youth Softball Association. He coached my and my sister's teams starting in the late 80's, became the Vice President of the Elk River Softball Association in the 90's, and then went on to become an assistant coach and pitching coach for the Elk River High School softball teams as my sister and I moved through middle and high school until he passed in '96. He spent endless hours on the field coaching young athletes and supporting the program and loved every minute of it. I knew he also played fastpitch softball in his young adult years but came to learn more about him as a player after you published a touching article about him in the Elk River Star News shortly after he passed away. In 1997 the High School dedicated the Varsity field in my Dad's name and placed a plaque on the home dugout of the Varsity field. This meant the world to me and my family as we continued to grieve our loss. To this day, we still attend Elk River High School softball games and visit his "home". It's also become a special memory for my daughters, who are now walking in their Mom and Grandfather's footsteps and becoming softball players themselves. As an Elk River High School alum, resident of Elk River, and now a coach through the Elk River Youth Softball Association for my own daughters, I am asking that his plaque move with the field to it's new location across the street. It has brought many happy memories to me and my family and is a special way to remember him and a sport he loved.