| |
Admin
Last updated
11-22-09 06:13 PM
 
BAC Football
Mel Larson
952-440-4382
Burnsville Athletic Club Football
100 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, Minnesota
55337
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 Mel Larson Field |
|
Thursday, June 29
Football Complex at Blackdog Park Renamed "Mel Larson Field"
| |  | | Photo By Scott Theisen/Sun Newspapers |
When Mel Larson moved to Burnsville in 1976 he signed up to be a volunteer football coach with the Burnsville Athletic Club (BAC). Now, some 29 years later, the football field at the City of Burnsville’s Black Dog Park was named “Mel Larson Field”.
The decision to name the field in Larson’s honor was recommended by the City’s Parks and Natural Resources Commission and unanimously adopted by the Burnsville City Council.
Mel Larson’s commitment to community service is evident in his years of dedicated service to the youth. Along with serving as a volunteer coach, Larson has served as the Commissioner for the Burnsville Athletic Club Football Program for the past 20 years. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall direction of three leagues that comprise the program, a 5/6 Grade AFL Division, a 7/8 Grade NFL Division and an 8th Grade All City Team. Keeping with the spirit of youth athletics, league rules mandate that every player who registers for BAC Football must start the game on either defense or offense and play the entire game.
The program has attracted an average of 300 players per year over the past three years. In addition to football, Larson coached BAC youth basketball for 15 years and BAC youth baseball for 5 years. He received the city’s “Community Builder Award” in 2000, an award given to residents who work to build a brighter future for the city.
The City of Burnsville and the Burnsville Athletic Club worked cooperatively on a series of improvements at the Black Dog Park facility to develop a premiere game facility for youth football. The improvements included new lighting, bleachers and press box, concession stand and field irrigation system. The BAC also holds games at the Nicollet Junior High Fields. For comparison, when Larson started coaching games were held at Vista View Park on a field that was 80 yards long and had no goalposts.
The event was held on Saturday, November 5th, and featured Burnsville mayor Elizabeth Kautz and BAC president Kevin Mortland, a plaque presentation, and the unveiling of the Mel Larson Field sign. The ceremony was also recorded by Burnsville/Eagan Community Television.
To read the Sun-Current's article on Mel Larson, please click HERE.
Handout: Mel Larson Field Press Release
|
|
