Improvements Planned at Elie Park

Some summer work at should make Dale Petit Field more usable because of better drainage.

City Council on Monday approved the project, which is slated to begin in early July and cost about $200,000.

Over a two-week period, crews will haul in 4,000 cubic yards of soil to better elevate the field, which will improve water runoff when it rains. The park is also slated to receive new gates, a new scoreboard, netting and a drinking fountain.

The field that sits in the shadow of a St. Louis Park water tower was named for Dale Petit, an influential figure in local youth sports who lost his battle with cancer four years ago at the age of 54.

Councilman Steve Hallfin said Petit was one of the founders of St. Louis Park traveling baseball. Hallfin said Petit knew the park wasn't the greatest, but he took it in stride.

"He said, 'We're going to turn this into a nice field for our kids,'" Hallfin said.

The field was renamed after Petit shortly after his death in 2008.