Kalispell council signals support to name youth athletic complex for Dan Johns

Kalispell councilors told staff July 28 to work with KidSports to prepare a naming resolution to recognize Dan Johns’ role in creating and developing the city’s youth athletic complex. Several councilors and many residents urged the council to adopt a name that preserves both the city’s and Johns’ contributions. Roy Beekman and Justin Slider, president of KidSports, described Johns as the driving force behind the complex and said they wanted a form of the facility’s name that makes that legacy clear. Justin Slider, identified as president of KidSports, told the council the nonprofit has invested heavily in the facility and asked to participate in drafting the final name. “The nonprofit has put well over $4,000,000 into the facility,” Slider said, and requested that KidSports be involved in deciding the exact wording of the new name. Councilors cited broad community support and agreed the fiscal cost of changing signs and materials would be minimal. Councilor Fisher asked about potential ongoing naming requests and urged the city to adopt a policy to guide future honorary namings. Several councilors agreed that a short, clear name would be preferable for practical use, while still honoring Johns. Staff explained past lease arrangements and said the property was originally under a long state lease that the city later made permanent after paying a final lease fee; staff also described a separate operations memorandum of understanding with KidSports. Council direction was to have staff coordinate with KidSports on a proposed name and bring a resolution to a future council meeting; staff also said they will draft a naming policy for council consideration. Next steps: Staff will work with KidSports to identify a preferred name (examples discussed included variations on “Dan Johns Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex” or simply “Dan Johns Fields”), prepare a resolution for council action, and draft a naming policy to guide future requests.