Ramsey Resident - 2021 - July/August

Home

Central Park Dedicated to Loral I Armstrong Delaney On Thursday, April 8, the City of Ramsey hosted a celebration at Central Park to honor and recognize lifelong Ramsey resident, Loral I Armstrong Delaney. Born in 1938 to Fred and Nellie Armstrong, Loral I has lived in Ramsey her entire life on the grounds of Armstrong Ranch Kennels. Her father opened the business in 1926, which operated along a gravel road. Later, that road would be paved and become a well -traveled thor- oughfare to be named Armstrong Boulevard. Loral I has witnessed the Township of Ramsey become the City it is today. In Loral I's lifetime, with husband Chuck Delaney at her side, her father's business has been transformed into a world -class dog boarding and training facility. The two of them co-founded, and host Game Fair each year, one oflargest outdoors events in the nation, and Loral I became one of the world's finest and most highly decorated trap shooters. Amassing numerous national and international trophies throughout six decades of competition, Loral I was inducted into the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1989. The renaming of Central Park to Loral I Armstrong Delaney Cen- tral Park was affirmed and adopted by the Ramsey City Council by way of Resolution. Following the dedication, residents and their dogs were invited to participate in a Community Dog Parade. Loral I Armstrong Delaney and her husband Chuck Delaney Spotlight on Ramsey Parks: Ford Brook Park Last year, the City replaced the playground equipment at Ford Brook Park to include swings, a balance beam, climb- ing bars, tunnels, slides and more. For a time, Ford Brook Park was referred to by residents as "Snake Park." The Park inherited this nickname because of the large cement culverts that were installed in a row to mimic a long, winding serpent. A resident even went as far as to paint the end piece as a snakehead with beady eyes and a long tongue. Little ones could crawl through the "belly" of the snake or climb atop its back. Over time, however, the structure began to deteriorate, along with the other steel equipment. It was repaired and repainted time and time again, but the existing playground had become unsafe for users. Anoka County was replacing their playground structure at Rum River County Park and the City purchased the lightly used equipment to be installed at Ford Brook Park. The City's Parks Department planted new trees, trimmed existing ones, brought in boulders and lined the new playground structure with rock. The park also has a new parking stall and trail leading to the new playground. Ford Brook Park is located at 5459 180th Ave- nue NW. For more information on Ramsey Parks, please contact our Parks Department at 763-433- 9820 or mwarner@cityoframsey.com.