By Chris Spangler
Jones Park in Fort Atkinson has been named “Field of the Year” by the Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association (WSTMA).
WSTMA President Ron Novinska, Oregon, visited the 126-year-old park Thursday to present the award to Brooke Franseen, Parks and Recreation Department director; Dave Radloff, aquatics specialist/parks caretaker; J.J. Yanke, parks maintenance supervisor; Josh Crandall, parks caretaker; Mat Thompson, parks/aquatics caretaker, and Rick Allard, parks crew leader.
Crandall had submitted the application materials to the WSTMA and was set to accept the award in Wisconsin Dells last week. However, the conference was canceled due to inclement weather.
“Jones Park is truly a destination park in Fort Atkinson for many reasons,” Franseen said.
During the presentation, she noted that without the hard work and dedication of the parks staff, Fort Atkinson would not be able to provide the high-quality facilities and experiences its community members have come to expect.
“I would like to give a special thanks to Josh Crandall, who has gone above and beyond his call of duty to maintain the baseball field that won the ‘Field of the Year’ award in the state,” Franseen said. “Josh’s attention to detail and strong work ethic have been invaluable to our department and have set a high bar for others to follow.”
She said that it is important to acknowledge that maintaining the parks and facilities is no easy task, and it requires a tremendous amount of effort and coordination.
“The parks staff work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our parks are clean, safe and well-maintained. They are the unsung heroes of our community, and I am constantly amazed by their dedication and passion for their work,” Franseen told attendees. “On behalf of the entire department, I want to say thank you to Josh and all of the parks staff for their hard work and for making our city a better place to work, live and play.”
Jones Park was dedicated as city park in 1897 with more than 1,000 area residents attending an evening ceremony. Today, every summer, thousands of people continue to enjoy the beauty of Jones Park, whether using the pavilion, playgrounds or spending the day enjoying one of the best baseball fields in Wisconsin, Franseen noted.
The field was first used for baseball on May 26, 1870, for a Fort Atkinson versus Jefferson matchup. In 1934, the Green Bay Packers and Coach Curly Lambeau defeated the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks there, 28-7.
In 2022, 100 games were scheduled to be played at Jones Park. The park was used for Baseball Fest and, for the first time ever, Adult Recess. While other events took place around the park, the field was used for dodgeball and kickball.
The park also hosts a monthly Cruise Night from May through September.
The seating capacity of the park is more than 500, with 46 seats at first base, 76 seats at third base, 15 rows of grandstands with 240 seats per row, 14 picnic tables and room for 100-plus lawnchairs.
Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department Director Brooke Franseen offers remarks Thursday at an award ceremony held in Jones Park during which the facility was named “Field of the Year” by the Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association.
Dave Radloff, Fort Atkinson aquatics specialist/parks caretaker, from left; J.J. Yanke, Fort Atkinson parks maintenance supervisor; Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association President Ron Novinska, Novinska; Brooke Franseen, Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department director; Josh Crandall, Fort Atkinson parks caretaker; Mat Thompson, Fort Atkinson parks/aquatics caretaker, and Rick Allard, Fort Atkinson parks crew leader gather for a presentation after which Jones Park was named “Field of the Year” by the Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association. The presentation was made Thursday in Jones Park.
Attendees applaud following Parks and Recreation Department director Brooke Franseen’s remarks.
Chris Spangler photos.
This post has already been read 2685 times!
