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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />terms of who will work with and who will serve for this park. They will talk about <br />developmental programming on how they will develop programs to bring in those to <br />serve on this park. They will talk about the site and infrastructure needs and related costs <br />that will go with the park. They will talk about the designs of the facility, there is so <br />much detail that it involved when you design a park for those who cannot see, hear, walk. <br />There are so many details that have to be included in park like this, and began to touch on <br />those things when they did Potawatomi several years ago. There is an alliance with <br />strategic partners, who will partner in with the City on use of the park, will they get <br />funding for the park from outside sources. He stated that they believe that from some of <br />the discussions that they have had from folks in the community some have the means <br />have said that it is a wait and see, let’s see what the city does and what kind of a park it <br />is, what the needs are as they progress forward. He stated that he believes that they have <br />access to some resources but again a lot of folks are doing a wait and see. Forecast for <br />operations and revenue projections, they will look at how they can make the park <br />sustainable. Miracle Inc. has said that all of their parks have been sustainable to date. <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that he believes the city’s will be the same. He stated that is regard to <br />economic impact they have through the Belleville Softball Complex for the past 14 years <br />have generated over 9 million dollars in economic impact for the city through that 1.4 <br />million dollar investment back in 1997. He stated that hundred of thousands of people <br />come to play and watch games being played at the park. He stated that being able to host <br />the Big East Conference Tournament along with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball <br />Team three different times. He stated that they have also hosted the most prestigious fast <br />pitch tournaments in the United States and they even have the possibility of hosting a <br />World Tournament at Belleville Park. He stated that with a complex for Miracle Park <br />that they have the experience to bring those types of activities for the special needs <br />population in South Bend. He asked the Council to support the funding for the planning <br />of this park so they can get started. He stated that they have for the past several months <br />working with Lehman & Lehman and they provide a lot of gratis work for this project <br />and also have been working very hard internally and working with the stake holders and <br />are ready to start rolling with this project and get started with funding tonight to be able <br />to start the formal planning process so that they can come back to ask for capital funding <br />to get this project started. He stated that there are people present tonight who are going to <br />speak in favor and those that cannot attend because it is not easy form them to pack up <br />and come down town and sit for a couple of hours in a meeting, its tough. Those that are <br />here tonight are speaking on behalf of themselves and those families who cannot attend <br />tonight. Mr. St. Clair stated that he attended District 11 Challenger Banquet and saw <br />family after family with their kids and they had a short conversation on where they would <br />like to be on this project. He stated that he saw a lot of enthusiasm in those families and <br />a lot of hope. Mr. St. Claire stated that he hopes the Council will take this into <br />consideration and vote in favor of this project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he has a couple of questions on Belleville Park. <br />He stated that he wanted to be clear on how he feels about Miracle Park. He stated that <br />he is looking on the internet for Miracle Inc. and cannot find a website for them. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that they are out of Atlanta, Georgia. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that Belleville was opened in 1997 and the Park <br />Department had the opportunity to do what. He wanted Mr. Clair to walk him through <br />the process, the vision, of the softball complex and how actually came to fruition. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that for the softball complex they had a vision to build a complex that <br />was much needed in the community back then. He stated that the City had the largest <br />softball leagues in the State of Indiana. They were locally short on diamonds and it <br />actually they were not allow all the teams to register because they did not have enough <br />field space. Being a former softball player for a long time he also recognize the benefits <br />to the community by hosting national and regional tournaments. What that meant from <br />an economic impact, so back in the mid 90’s they talked about designing a complex that <br />would one solve the needs of the local community and two be able to open up the City to <br />other folks around the United States to come to South Bend and play at our complex. He <br />stated that he envisions the same for Miracle Park. <br /> 10 <br /> <br />