In Support of Students and Staff of DeLaSalle High School

I support the students, parents, and staff of DeLaSalle High School as the school moves ahead with a proposal to lease 2 acres of property, currently owned by the Minneapolis Park Board and used primarily as tennis courts, for purposes of developing a shared-use, multi-purpose facility for athletic programs of DeLaSalle and the Minneapolis Park Board.

I understand that all DeLaSalle students would use this facility as part of a Physical Education Curriculum. I support that the facility would be developed for game and practice use by DeLaSalle teams in girls soccer, boys soccer, girls softball and football, as well as uses by other teams and programs in the school.

I support that the Minneapolis Park Board would use this facility for recreational youth athletic programs near the urban core, to serve families of Minneapolis who currently have limited facilities available to them.

I understand that representatives from DeLaSalle, a hallmark on Nicollet Island since 1900, inquired about, and received written clearance from, the Fire Department and other safety offices of Minneapolis, to assure that safety access is not compromised in any way to any person living on Nicollet Island, including those who live at the Christian Brothers residence at DeLaSalle.

I know that DeLaSalle has been meticulous in its planning and has acted in good faith, that the school first took steps in 2004 to meet with and listen to concerns of residents on Nicollet Island, months before sharing this concept with its current parents, alumni or friends, months before developing an actual project design with architects or engineers, and months before approaching the Minneapolis Park Board with a formal proposal.

I understand that the majority of the land to be developed for use in a multi-purpose athletic facility would be privately owned by DeLaSalle, that DeLaSalle would be responsible for the design and development of the site and understands how important those steps are.

I understand that the concept of using public land, owned by the Minneapolis Park Board for shared use with private citizens or businesses on the island, is in keeping with the current land use and lease arrangements for the majority of the land on Nicollet Island.

I support that the adolescent women and men who attend DeLaSalle and their parents should be afforded the same opportunities for facilities and programs as other high schools in the Twin Cities.

Thank you for considering my support of this petition.