Veterans Memorial Park {Part 5 - Football}

The Union High School football team has been trampling area teams the past couple years, and part of that may be due to the strong junior league in town.

"Our youth sports programs feed into the high school programs. Union High School has had a good run of successful sports teams which I believe is due in part to the hard work and dedication of those involved in youth sports," stated Jeff Watson, President of the Union Wildcats Junior Football League. "It’s a source of pride in our community."

Team sports teach important life skills to children, and the junior football league is all about teaching the young men skills.

According to Watson, Union Wildcats Junior Football League will have approximately 200 participants in the 2012 football season on 8 teams for kids in grades 3rd through 8th.

Last year, there were 7 teams...with 5 teams practicing on one field at the middle school and 2 other teams practicing on baseball fields. Just a little crowded...

The high school allows the use of their field for games, but in the event of heavy rain, the high school field cannot be used...and that can be detrimental to the Union program. Last year, when the Union team had earned a home playoff game, the game was moved to Washington because of heavy rain. Union still had to pay the referees, but Washington collected the gate receipts and concessions.

Photo used with permission

Watson added that an additional venue for games and practices for the football league would be very beneficial to the football program as well as the baseball program. The Union fall baseball league is growing, but the field space is limited with fall baseball and football running at the same time. By having enough football practice facilities, more fields are freed up for fall baseball to be able to expand.

***


On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $12 hanging basket from Platt's Nursery - 6 cents extra
• on a $27 knife from a Pampered Chef consultant - 14 cents extra
• on a $95 stack of college class supplies at the ECC Bookstore - 48 cents extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:
{Part 4 - Trails and Lakes}
{Part 3 - Soccer}
{Part 2 - Pavilions}
{Part 1 - Baseball}

Just one more post to go on the 43.8 acre proposed Veterans Memorial Park...playgrounds.

Author: Tyann Marcink

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 4 - Trails and Lakes}

It's a proven fact that exercise is good for you. We all know that, right? And our town of Union has made great efforts to help us to get off our laurels and get moving.

Beginning at the Union City Park, the city has established 3 routes for walking, running, and biking. Each route is color coded and clearly marked for ease of use. And on top of that, there are even exercise stations along the routes.

The marked trails begin at the Union City Park.

Color coded signs mark the different trail routes.

The walking trails wind through town, over steep hills, through the park system, and around the city lake. What would the new Veterans Memorial Park add to this excellent system? Well, how about trails for the east side of town. Currently, the trail system is only on the west side of Union and towards the downtown area.

The new trails would also be much more forgiving in elevation. The field-like area doesn't have the steep hills like the west end of town.

The trail around the lake is great exercise for those with 2 or 4 feet.

The Veterans Memorial Park would include natural wetlands, or a lake, as well. There are many fishermen in the area, and the city lake can be crowded on a balmy weekend. The parks department also hosts a fishing derby each year that is a big hit with families.

Family fishing time

Fishing is relaxing

On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $10 prescription from Walgreens - 0 cents extra
• on a $30 pedi/mani at L'Nails - 0 cents extra
• on a  $75 tank fill up at Mobil - 0 cents extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:

{Part 3 - Soccer}

{Part 2 - Pavilions}

{Part 1 - Baseball}

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...playgrounds and football fields.


Author: Tyann Marcink
Photos: Marcink Designs

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 2 - Pavilions}

If these pavilions could talk...

A place for everyone to gather, the pavilions in the Union parks system enjoy more birthday parties, family reunions, wedding receptions, banquets, concerts, picnics, and political rallies than we will ever know.

Events as large as the Regional FFA Foundation Banquet sponsored by the Union Rotary Club to the city's Long Haul BBQ to even a political rally for a Presidential race have used the Union Parks pavilions.
These highly used gathering spots are a hot commodity on Saturdays from April through October, with many reservations being made well over a year in advance.

One of many family gatherings one will see at the park pavilions.

During the pavilion season, if you want to use one on a Saturday, you have two choices:

1. call the Parks Department and rent one, or
2. arrive at dawn to stake claim to the use of the pavilion for the day.

There are only 3 pavilions in the Union parks that are on a first-come, first-picnic basis, and the other 7 are available to be rented. Of course, if a pavilion is not rented, then it is a first-come, first-picnic basis as well.

A birthday girl at the Garden Pavilion near Clark-Vitt Elementary.

Now, there are also smaller family shelters, a covered picnic table or two. These are always first-come, first-picnic.

According to Angie Breeden in the Parks Department, the new park would most likely have several family shelters, giving Union residents additional spots to enjoy their picnics in the park or just to escape the sun during their visit.

During his campaign in 2008, President Obama held a grass roots rally at the large pavilion.

On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $2.75 ice cream cone from Scoops N' More - 1.3 cents extra
• on a $60 dog crate at Dickey Bub's - 30 cents extra
• on a $300 pair of eye glasses from Union Eye Associates - $1.50 extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th.

The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...walking trails, splash pad, playground, soccer and football fields, and more.

Author: Tyann Marcink

Photos: Marcink Designs

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 1 - Baseball}

Nearly every weekday evening and weekend day from April through June, there are many boys scattered throughout the Union parks playing a game of baseball or having a practice. And with 560 boys playing on just 5 game fields, it gets a little crowded.

A team of t-ball boys getting ready to take the field.

I was a little overwhelmed myself when I heard the number of boys playing baseball this year...560 baseball gloves to get home each night, 46 teams to run the bases, 1,120 sweaty socks thrown in the laundry, and thousands of parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family who come into Union to watch these sweet boys play a wonderful game of baseball.

Coaches (aka Dads and Moms) are integral to the league's success.

So one section of the proposed Veterans Memorial Park is for additional baseball fields - 4 regular size and 1 tournament size. And with the rate the baseball program is growing, the league is beyond the desperation point. Consider that just 4 years ago, there were approximately 400 players, according to Jim Jedrey, league organizer. That is a 40% increase!

A few more facts from Jedrey about the program:

• participating boys are ages 4 years to 18 years old
• roughly 200 adults volunteer for managing and coaching
• 450 of the players are from Union
• 110 players are from 12 towns in the surrounding area

Not only are these boys having fun playing one of the greatest games, but they are learning important life skills:

• teamwork
• focus
• positive attitude
• following instructions
• playing by the rules
• listening
• good sportsmanship
• and more

Good sportsmanship begins early.

On Tuesday, June 5th, the Proposition Park will be on a ballot for registered voters to decide if they want a small sales tax to fund the building of this amazing park in Union. The sales tax is a mere one-half cent. What does that calculate to?

• on a $4 hot dog from the Hot Dog Man - 2 cents extra
• on a $35 order of pizza from Benito's - 17.5 cents extra
• on a $95 prom dress from Margo's A Wedding Place - 47.5 cents extra
• on a $175 grocery bill at Frick's - 87.5 cents extra

The little bit of extra change from each person shopping in Union adds up to an amazing park for not just our residents, but for the surrounding area.

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...walking trails, splash pad, pavilions, playground, soccer and football fields, and more.

All those dirty socks...

"Baseball" - by Marcink Designs

Author: Tyann Marcink

Photos by: Marcink Designs

Kids Caring for the Community

Local Girl Scout's Daisy troop #4596 did more than have a play date at the park Tuesday night, they were there to work!  The girls showed how much they care about their community by planting two red bud trees at the main city park.

They were all smiles as they got to each take turns shoveling dirt onto the trees and then watering them.

These first grade girls were very proud to know that they would always have a reminder of how they helped to make their park more beautiful.

Planting the trees was fun, but they weren't done yet!  After donning their blue gloves, they ran around the park picking up litter.

They were very excited every time that they found a cigarette, soda can, plastic wrapper or other piece of trash.  When they were finished, they had filled a large sized trash bag!

"Look how much we found!"  Each girl was very proud of what they had accomplished.  While wrapping up the work day, many of the girls were talking about how they were so happy that they could make the park a healthier and safer place to play!

These girls are the future of our community and are trying to do their part to take care of and protect it.  Way to go girls!!


Gussie Schmitz