Delano Athletic Club
The Delano Athletic Club was founded in 1948 by Father
Handzel, Perry Ditty, Valentine “Dutch” Styrbicky, and Fred
Parsons. The organization’s main purpose is to help improve
local baseball facilities and support youth and adult athletic
programs.
The DAC has spearheaded capital improvement projects
at both Delano Municipal Baseball Park and Dave Zitzloff
Field. This includes contributing more than $500,000 in
funding, materials, and donated labor.
In addition, Athletic Club members take care of the
majority of field maintenance at these two ballparks.
Besides providing the free labor, the DAC purchases its own
maintenance machinery, equipment, and tools. This includes
lawn mowers, utility vehicles, blowers, hedge trimmers, weed
whips, field drags, tarps, rakes, shovels, and more.
Due in large part to the leadership of the Delano
Athletic Club, Delano Municipal Baseball Park has earned a
reputation as one of best amateur ballparks around. Special
recognition the ballpark has received includes:
Minnesota High School Field of the Year in 2013
Midwest Region Field of the Year in 2014
Finalist for National High School Field of the Year in 2014
Named the No. 1 Town Team Ballpark in Minnesota in a
2019 year-end Top 100 Ballpark countdown by baseball
enthusiast Bob Greeley
Delano earned bids to host the Minnesota State Amateur
Baseball Tournament in 1975, 1984, 1997, 2013, and 2019.
In addition, Delano hosted a St. Paul Saints game in 2012
and the 2016 Minnesota American Legion State Baseball
Tournament.
Besides hosting more than 100 baseball games annually,
Delano Municipal Baseball Park serves as the hub of multiple
community activities and has hosted events such as:
Delano 4th of July Royalty Coronation
Relay for Life Opening Ceremonies
Laser Light Show
Movies in the Park
Local Church Services
Kids’ Night at the Ballpark
As a community nonprofit organization comprised of
about 20 active volunteers, the Delano Athletic Club always
welcomes new members. For more information or any
questions, please contact Steve Eilen at 612-710-8865, Jeff
Janzen at 952-270-6612, or Joe Schleper at 612-859-7342.
Delano Boy Scout Troop 273
The Delano Boy Scout Troop 273 was founded in 1928, and
the local pack was started in 1940.
The purpose of the organization is to provide an educational
program for boys and young adults to build character and
leadership skills.
There are about 45 members in the organization, which
meets Mondays in the community room above the Heritage
Center or at the Delano American Legion from 7 to 8:15 p.m.
The first Monday of the month is Patrol Leader Council from
6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the adult leader/interested
parent meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This boy-led troop
empowers boys to be leaders by allowing them to develop
a troop program and then take responsibility for figuring out
how to achieve their goals. They accomplish this by electing
a senior patrol leader and then organizing into groups of
patrols under the guidance of the scoutmaster.
The troop camps or overnights each month and does high
adventure trips such as mountain treks in New Mexico and
seabase ocean trips in Florida, and other activities. Special
projects or events include highway cleanups, the Fourth of
July pop stand, wreath sales, and camping trips.
Anyone over the age of 11 interested in joining is invited
to visit any meeting. Visit https://delano273.mytroop.us/ for
more information.
Delano Climate Group
The Delano Climate Group is a newly formed gathering
of Minnesotans seeking to activate our communities to take
action on the climate crisis we now face. The group is con-
necting with other organizations such as MN350 and local
faith communities to confront this crisis with the realities of
science and principles of justice. The group meets monthly,
usually on Monday evenings, at the 221 Common House in
Delano. To join the email list or learn more about the group,
contact Logan Rieder ([email protected]) or Nikki
Nau ([email protected])
Delano Community Band
The Delano Community band is an all-volunteer, inter-
generational group based in Delano, and is supported by
the Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture. The band was
established in November 2017.
The Delano Community Band is open to area youth and
adult musicians of all experience levels. Its goal is to provide
a recreational, social, educational, and musical outlet for its
members.
The band rehearses 7-8:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the
Delano High School band room. Amy Johnson is the project
director. David Hood is the conductor.
Mission: To provide musical growth, development, and
performance opportunities for amateur instrumentalists
and bring musical enrichment to Delano and surrounding
communities
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Official DELANO GUIDE BOOK 2020