Keizertimes., June 04, 2021, Image 1

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Volume 42 • No. 33
JUNE 4, 2021
OBSTACLE COURSE PLANS
TAKING SHAPE
BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes
K
eizer Rapids Park is already one of
the more appealing destinations
in town, but the park could be receiving
a signifi cant upgrade in the form of a
military-grade obstacle course later this
year.
McNary High JROTC instructor
Javier Martin-Vinas, in partnership
with the Army Corps of Engineers and
the Oregon Army National Guard, is
heading up a project to install an
obstacle course at
Keizer Rapids Park —
the course would be
located adjacent to
the Big Toy Playground.
“I am super excited. I really want to
give the kids something to look forward
to,” Martin-Vinas said. “It is ambitious,
I know that. We still have a lot of work
ahead of us. But I am really looking
forward to getting this done.”
McNary JROTC students will be
organizing and spearheading
this construction eff ort to include
fundraising and grant research. Martin-
Vinas is also hoping to get McNary
business students to help in the
marketing and fundraising
plans. Additionally, he plans
on getting the
One of the
potential site
plans for an obstacle
course in Keizer Rapids
Park under consideration by the
McNary High School AFJROTC.
school's geometry and construction
program on board to assist in putting
together the obstacles under the
supervision of the Army National
See SHAPE,
page A15
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YOUTH
LEAGUES
PUSH BACK
on who endorsed
whom for park
management
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
The leadership of three Keizer-based
youth leagues are pushing back against
the assertion they in any way endorsed a
plan for the For Love of the Game to man-
age and relocate operations at Keizer
Little League Park.
A committee of city councilors, staff
and volunteers recently recommended
awarding a management contract to For
Love of the Game, a group composed
of Jerry and Lisa Walker and their son
Mickey Walker. The Walkers own the
Salem-Keizer
Volcanoes/Mavericks
League.
Mickey Walker, after a story ran in the
Keizertimes this week, said For Love of
the Game isn’t dead set on relocating the
fi elds.
"We would absolutely operate youth
baseball at KLL Park and have expressed
our willingness to do so. Our goal is to
make youth baseball the best it can be
in this area, whether it be at a brand
new complex or being able to update
the existing complex. We just want to
provide more opportunities for youth
See PUSH BACK, page A11