THE LIONS ROAR REINCARNATED

Edited by Mark Ripplinger

Photos by Don Wood & Mark Ripplinger

August 11, 2008

Lions President Mark Miller

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (August 11th)

Fellow Lions, prizes, prizes, prizes I went out last week and picked up some great prizes for our summer picnic. We should have a great time and a great dinner. If you have anything to bring for prizes we only have a few Mondays left to bring them in. Also if you want to play golf before dinner please let Bob Leahy (266-1619) know, so he can get you a tee time.

We Serve ……… Mark Miller

TODAY’S MEETING (August 11th)

Don Blau and Fred Abraham will speak to the club about the Iowa Baseball League

COMING ATTRACTIONS

August 18th … Pat Mitchell, Cedar Falls High School Football Coach will speak to the club about the upcoming season.

August 25th … No Meeting! Summer Picnic & Golf Outing

September 1st … No Meeting! Labor Day

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

Budd Curttright – Aug. 11th Ron & Trenna King – Aug. 14th

Dick Brammer – Aug. 16th Perry & Constance Krieger – Aug. 16th

Larry & Patricia VanOort – Aug. 17th

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Lions Club board meeting time and location will be announced during today’s meeting.

LAST MEETING (August 4th)

Pete Downs, Cedar Falls Park & Recreation Commission, provided the club with an update on the future of the golf operations at Washington Park. As many Lions Club members know, the record June 2008 floods caused damages to many facilities located in the river corridor. They not only included residential and businesses, but also recreation areas such as the Golf Course at Washington Park. The damages the occurred to the course and the structures were so severe, that the City is considering closing the golf operations at Washington Park in the future. Washington Park golf course has been open since 1918 and has numerous positive attributes as a golf facility. They include ease to walk the course, not intimidating to those learning the game but also challenging to the more accomplished player. It is affordable and unique in terms of par 3 and par 4 holes. Unfortunately, the frequency and seriousness of recent flooding brings questions whether the community should continue to invest substantial capital dollars into a facility that cannot be protected from flooding. Seven of the ten most severe floods have occurred since 1990, with the 2008 flood devastating the golf course. Pete provided the Club with photo’s, which exhibited the damage not only the course itself, but to the clubhouse. FEMA has determined that the clubhouse is a total loss and will be required to be demolished. Graphical information illustrated how play fluctuates greatly after flooding and that it might take several years for the course to recover. In addition, the information illustrated the trend towards fewer rounds being played annually. Financial information also illustrated that expenses are continuing to grow faster than revenues, indicating that the golf course is not covering its costs. This is directly tied to the flooding that is occurring and the amount of time the course is closed and/or being renovated for play. While there are certainly emotional arguments that can be made to keep the facility open, the economics point towards closing the course. Improvements from $200,000 to $700,000 would be needed depending on what level of repair is desired, and the course will still not be protected from future flood events. Options other than a golf course at Washington Park include developing it as a riverside park similar to Island or Gateway parks. Actual amenities, should it be converted to a riverside park, will be discussed in the future.