Nampa Optimist Club

Optimist Football News

Idaho Press Tribune 2 Jun 2000 - Pg 1A

Club wants to collaborate with city for $650,000 field

For the Idaho Press-Tribune

     NAMPA -- If the Nampa Optimists have their way, the city will soon be the site of a $650,000 football park where 7 to 12-year old boys and girls will play competitive flag and tackle football.
     The idea for an Optimist football program and the football park sprang from a desire to work with the city of Nampa to get more than just fifth and sixth-graders involved in football, Nampa Optimist football program executive director Ken Wilson said during a fund-raiser held Thursday at Lakeview Park in Nampa.
     "There's nothing worse than seeing little kids sitting on the sideline wanting to play." said Wilson, who has coached youth football for 15 years.
     The club hopes to raise the needed funds to build the park through donations and help from the Nampa Parks and Recreation Department, Optimist Jeff Lake said.
     "The city is very interested in partnering with us in building the park," Lake said. "Our goal is to have it completed by the 2002 season."
     In the meantime, practices will be held at various locations beginning in mid-August, and games will be played at West Junior High School, Lake said. The program needs about $29,000 to see it through its first season.
     Lake and the group has raised $18,000 thus far and expected to take in another $5,000 at Thursday's barbecue.

Dan Magpie, left, nose guard for the Idaho Stallions, gives Greenhurst Elementary student Andrew Powers, 7, a few pointers during the punt, pass, kick competition at Lakeview Park Thursday evening. The event was sponsored by Nampa Optimist Football, which is in its first year.

To give
• Any individual or business interested in donating to the football program can call Jeff Lake, 250-6837.

On 4A
• Crowd turns out to support Optimist football.

Reprinted by permission of Idaho Press Tribune
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