Islamic Society of Willmar is potential Garfield buyer
August 30, 2011 at 8:20 am in West Central Tribune
WILLMAR The Islamic Society of Willmar made an offer on Aug. 9 to purchase the Garfield School property in southwest Willmar.
Continue Reading
**It currently has a mosque at 410 Becker Ave. S.W. in downtown Willmar.** HA!! How many didn’t know that…I say go ahead and sell it…but you better get more than you got for the old school on 12th and Ella NW….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
13
Now that the information is out, I’m still worried about noise issues, posted this in the other thread:
Honestly, those who think noise won’t be any sort of issue… Say they buy the school, what are they planning on using the rest of the lot for? Will they build a place they can practice soccer (so they don’t have to use the tennis courts at rice park? I listen to the police scanner at home and have heard several calls about noise complaints over there.) Next, during the month of June their prayer times go as late as 11:09 PM. ( http://goo.gl/rnkIu ‘link to IslamicFinder.org prayer schedule for Willmar.’) Will the building be used for late night prayers? If so, there sure will be quite a bit of noise generated by everyone leaving. Granted yes there is currently noise generated in the area what with girls softball game that are played one or two nights a week during the summer, however, those games are always done by 8 PM. That is the almost always the only noise generated over in area during the summer. I routinely see Somali teens playing soccer over at rice park past 10:30 PM on a nightly basis. During the school year pretty much the same, except for more traffic in the morning/afternoon and some days the ALC students play kickball at the ball diamond.
Hot debate. What do you think?
24 
30
Maybe a new location would work better. There is a property south of town on 9.6 acres that could become a learning and prayer center. Its 8000 square feet with plenty of acreage to raise animals and plant and is plenty private and has alot of parking.
http://www.willmarareahomes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=http://www.obeo.com%2fu.aspx%3fID%3d686984
someone needs to look at this as a possability. It has huge rooms for meetings and prayers, is quiet and serene.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
James if you bother to read the story you would know that the offer was for the north half of the two blocks NOT the open section where there is a field and the ice rink. I too have driven past Rice park at night but different from your perspective I have seen a variety of different people using that park, and for that matter how exactly does one practice soccer on a tennis court with nets?
You mention the Islamic prayer times, well what about the times of year where churches have activities going on late at night and NOT prayer focused. I had friends who lived near a church with a park next to it and the church held a lock-in where they plannned on an activity in the park well after the posted closing time where the kids were led in activities. Did you happen to look further at that link to see what prayers are required to take place at one location or what prayers actually occur at home?
Not long ago this city boasted with pride the national coverage of their State Champion Cross Country Team which was led by a group of young men from Somalia. What happened between then and now? Boy I fear what kind of coverage will come upon this community if this sale is protested or heaven forbid if the City Council fumbles it like what happened with Westwinds!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
38 
21
all i need to know about Islam i learned on 911!!!
Hot debate. What do you think?
17 
17
That is too bad and sad for you lonnie. I suppose all you needed to know about Japan and Germany you learned from WW II?
Hot debate. What do you think?
16 
14
Maybe a new location would work better. There is a property south of town on 9.6 acres that could become a learning and prayer center. Its 8000 square feet with plenty of acreage to raise animals and plant and is plenty private and has alot of parking.
http://www.willmarareahomes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=http://www.obeo.com%2fu.aspx%3fID%3d686984
someone needs to look at this . It has huge rooms for meetings and prayers, is quiet and serene.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
Yes mike I have read the article. The are I’m thinking about is the area on the north side of the school that runs along trott Ave. Or removing the playground equipment an using that land area. As to the soccer on the tennis courts. They go the small way and actually have two practice areas on the courts.
Like or Dislike:
10 
18
I have no issue with Somali people whatsoever. What I do have is a problem with potential noise issues in our quiet neighborhood. Whether it come from Somalis, Hispanics, whites or any color or any cultural/religious affiliation.
Hot debate. What do you think?
23 
21
James are you only a seasonal resident? What about the nightly activity that occurs at Garfield Skating rink? Those lights stay on until 10:00 pm and I know from personal experience that late night skates also occur on exceptionally clear nights.
James take a closer look at your original post, it is really hard to not see that your concern is about a specific culture and not about noise only. You may want to believe something different friend, but your post suggests otherwise.
Hot debate. What do you think?
23 
21
Nope, here year round. However I don’t seem to be able to HEAR the lights so that doesn’t seem bother me. And I would be nuts to try and sleep with my windows open in the middle of winter.
Hot debate. What do you think?
27 
19
Since you brought up the skating rink. What’s going to happen to the warming house? Currently the warming house is WPS property, but, they let the city use it. Will the ISW permit the city to use the warming house? Or will one of two more likely options occur? 1: Garfield will not have a warming house anymore. 2: The city will have to build a new standalone warming house somewhere on the southern half of the park.
Like or Dislike:
16 
8
James why do you assume that activities in a public park would transfer over to this location? Are those activities organized and sponsored by a group?
As to your prayer concern this is in fact the defintion of that specific prayer time:
‘Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night, Muslims again take time to remember God’s presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.
Again your ASSUMPTION is that all prayer must take place at one location, but clearly this is not the case. Do we Christians only pray in one location? Like Muslims there are Christians that observe similar prayer times and like Muslims most of these prayers take place at other locations. Check out this link as one of many examples of perscribed Christian prayer time: http://prayerfoundation.org/dailyoffice/z_daily_office_000_index.htm
Hot debate. What do you think?
19 
17
Where did I say prayers HAD to be done outside of the home? I simply asked if the building would be used for late night prayer. Those who wanted to go to the building can, those who don’t, don’t.
Hot debate. What do you think?
20 
13
James, just what business of yours are any kind of prayers, latenite or otherwise?
If they were latenight Protestant prayers, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep”, would that bother you and yours?
Hot debate. What do you think?
20 
24
What I SAID was their prayer times go as late as 11:09 PM in June. And IF the building would be used for people who want to do their prayers there and not at home, the traffic of them coming and going could create a disturbance. I didn’t say any of their actual prayers were any of my business. Just the noise that could be created with the traffic movement of people.
Hot debate. What do you think?
19 
14
Well James the answer to your prayer question is that no, that prayer does not occur at one specific location it is done just prior to bed each night.
Still am not understanding why you are linking activities that occur at a city owned park with this, unless you know for fact that those activities are being sponsored by this organization. And since you don’t live next to Rice park how do you know for certain that there are nightly soccer practice going on in the tennis courts? You mention having police scanner, are you suggesting that these “nightly practices” get broken up every night by the police who share the names over the scanner each and every night?
Hot debate. What do you think?
11 
20
Once again, I never asked if prayers had to be done at one specific location, so quit saying I did, OK? I asked if the building would be used/available for late night prayer, got it?
Here is my thinking on your second statement, the ISW wants to buy the building and lot. They obviously want to make a place they can all gather. Would it not be a reasonable thought that they would want to have an central area that they can play on, rather than using public parks and land such as the tennis courts at Rice Park or Robbins Island? On the issue of how I know soccer practices occur at Rice: I work midnight to 8 am, so I leave home to go get something to eat around 10:30/11 PM several nights a week. I take the same route every night: Kandiyohi Ave, which you should know runs right past Rice Park. And the majority of the nights there is a large group of Somali men practicing soccer.
When did I say that the cops are over there on a nightly basis? I said I have heard several calls, which I will clarify have been over a course of 3-4 months. NOT a nightly basis. Most of the calls have been directed to the tennis court area where there was a “large group of men making a lot of noise.”
Maybe you should quit trying to put words in my mouth.
Like or Dislike:
16 
8
James I understand your worry regarding something different, but like today’s story said the facility will be used is a similar fashion as any church in Willmar. I really think your concern about activity at a city park transfering over to this site is unfounded, and besides you are at work during this time anyway.
Like or Dislike:
10 
17
Wow…alot of if’s and assumptions going on…Sounds like the same kind of talk that got the pellet plant moved to Benson. LOL
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
2
I was thinking the exact same thing Chris. Let’s play semantics, shall we? Good mercy people…be reasonable. We could’ve really used that pellet plant…maybe Yanish will come up with something like that in the industrial park;)
Like or Dislike:
13 
7
They are going to use the building and start their own school. Why else would you buy a school building?
Like or Dislike:
10 
18
To those who speak of our Somali community as the “enemy,” and as people whom we are at “war with,” I think you are mistaken. If we are at war with them and they are the enemy, then why are they in our Kindergarten classrooms? Why are we teaching them. Why are “our” children sitting along side of them, learning with them, competing on sports teams with them? Why are they helping Willmar win state cross country championships? Why do they own buisnesses in town, shop locally, pay taxes, etc. etc. etc. The fact is we are at war with extreme, fringe groups within Islam, the same way we are at war with extreme, fringe groups within Christianity. All groups, organizations, and institutions have their extreme and radical elements. Better to not paint with such broad strokes…
Hot debate. What do you think?
18 
13
Wow Lonnie, thanks for showing your blatant prejudices and lack of education on a public forum. Sad to see there are people still like you who are so grossly misinformed. I could also earhole christianity and say I learned everything I need to know about Christianity the day that abortion doctor got shot in Wichita. But then I stop and think and remember that I am not a bigot and actually educate myself about things unlike you.
Like or Dislike:
11 
13
Perhaps the best thing to happen in Willmar will be the creation of this facility so that whole community can becme better educated about our neighbors. I really hope that this sale is successful and that this becomes the first step in many great steps for Willmar in becoming an example of how a city can come together neighbor to neighbor.
Hot debate. What do you think?
17 
16
http://www.willmarareahomes.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/ListNow/Default.aspx sorry to repeat just learning this posting. but again great place to think about. Has an open house on the 29th at 12:30 to look at for the possible.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As I said earlier, the big issue with a church or other group that plans to have larger gatherings is the current lack of parking. My understanding of the process for a new buyer of this property is that they will need to comply with city ordinances on parking and the planning and zoning department could place other restrictions on use. If anyone has concerns about parking, noice, hours of operation, etc they should attend those meetings and voice their concerns. The current parking lot is clearly not sufficient for a church so if the proposed buyer plans to have more than 20 cars there at one time they better make plans to expand the parking lot because I think that will be a big issue for the folks in that neighborhood.
Like or Dislike:
6 
2