Mayor Shelly Carlson (at left) presented the June MoorHeart Award to members of Moorhead and Fargo Rotary clubs. (Front, from left) Jean Hannig, Teresa Joppa, Heather Ranck, Aurelie McManus with father Ryan McManus, and Parks Director Holly Heitkamp. (Back row) Kay Parries, Tim LeClair, Tracey Moorhead, Gary Nolte, Ken Rosson and Dan Parries.
Heather Ranck and Fargo-Moorhead’s five Rotary clubs – Moorhead Rotary and four clubs based in Fargo – were presented with the June MoorHeart Award at the Moorhead City Council meeting Monday.
The clubs and Ranck were singled out for their work in establishing the Rotary Natural Play Hill and Bike Park, a $1.27 million development within Riverfront Park in Moorhead. The new park will open June 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
In nominating the project leader and service clubs, Moorhead governmental affairs director, Lisa Bode, wrote, “Heather Ranck has been the champion of the Rotary Natural Play Hill and Bike Park at Riverfront Park. The project, in planning since 2018, will soon provide the community an inspiring hilltop play area overlooking the Red River, with opportunities for unstructured play, interactive learning and year-round outdoor physical activity.”
Bode cited the group’s successful fund-raising among the Rotary chapters, with more than 100 individual Rotarians also contributing individually: “Because of this generosity, the city of Moorhead had to make only a very nominal investment of $60,000 (for site preparation) in this $1.2 million project that will be a long-lasting amenity for our community.”
The nomination added, “There are other amazing, generous service clubs that do wonderful deeds for our community year after year. This nomination is not intended to overlook other contributions; however, the size, scope, and especially the leadership by Heather Ranck and the FM Rotary Foundation in this project makes this an opportune time to recognize this amazing gift. … The Play Hill and Bike Park will be free and open to the public. [The park] is being donated to the city, who will be responsible for regular maintenance and upkeep. The Natural Play Hill and Bike Park will be a unique destination for kids throughout the region.”
The MoorHeart Award is presented every month to an individual or organization who are doing great things, large or small. More information on nominating recipients can be found online at cityofmoorhead.com. It is commemorated with an original work of art commissioned from local artist Dennis Krull.
