It is very sad for me as someone who has lived all my life in Albert Lea to read and hear that Morin Park is being considered as a site for the new fire department.

Morin Park has been a part of my life since being a small child when my mom would take us there to play on the equipment. One time my sister and a friend took me there and I fell off the jungle gym. According to her, I was knocked out. Not knowing what to do, she and the friend put me in the their wagon and started for home where I came to on the way.

As a youngster, there were two hockey rinks there and the park was full of kids skating on weekends. Not being able to skate much, the older high school guys let me play some goalie, and it was sure fun to be a part of it.

Later on, we would play tennis there, and I had many physical education classes there while attending the old high school, playing football, softball and many other activities.

As an adult, my wife and I have taken our two kids many times to the park to play on the equipment. Our children both started their baseball and softball playing with T-ball and coach pitch games on the two diamonds. My current 11A baseball team that I coach had some of their early May practices there this year. Both our youth softball and baseball associations are struggling with finding enough fields to accomodate the growing number of participants in these two sports, and I would hate to have two fields lost without having replacements.

As you can see, this park has served and continues to serve the entire community over many generations. I hope that if my children decide to live in Albert Lea in their adult years, this park is there for another generation of the Jones family and our entire community.

Tom Jones

Albert Lea