“If you build it, they will come.” The dream has come true, and through a collaborative effort between the community, school and a lot of dedicated folks, Pop’s Porch is built!

Pop’s Porch is a viewing deck at Fritz Soule Field, the Mound Westonka High School baseball field. Pop’s Porch is named after Dick Halvarson (Pop), who began his 25-year tenure of teaching at Grandview Middle School when he moved to Mound in 1959. He then spent the next 10 years teaching at MWHS. Halvarson coached 28 years of hockey and 46 years of football at Mound Westonka and has always been an avid baseball fan.

Pop’s Porch will be officially dedicated on Saturday, April 30, at Soule Field, when the White Hawks varsity, junior varsity and C-squads face off against DeLaSalle. It will be a full day of baseball, beginning with the C-squad game at 9:30 a.m., the Pop’s Porch grand opening at 12:30 p.m., the JV game at 1:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 4:30 p.m.

The idea for the project began about six years ago, when parent and former coach David Mellek had plans drawn up for the tiered deck and got the footings poured. Due to financial constraints, the project stalled out for several years. But last year, Bob Lucas and Todd Munsterteiger, two Westonka parents with kids in the baseball program, decided the project needed to get done.

“The area had so much potential and was just becoming an eyesore,” said Munsterteiger, who is also the Westonka Area Learning Academy (WALA) coordinator and head wrestling coach.

Lucas came up with the idea of asking the community for “treasure, talents and time.” The grassroots idea spread via social media and word of mouth. Most of the funds for the project were raised through donations. Donations of $250 or more will be recognized on a dedication plate at the field.

When the time came to begin building the porch last fall, Randy Schaefer, a former carpenter with no special ties to the baseball program, led a team of about 15 volunteer dads to put up the framing. Work continued on weekends this spring, and the deck is finally ready for use.

The deck is open to everyone, although Halvarson and his wife, Helen, will get preferred seating on dedication day.

Organizers appreciate the tremendous community support for the Pop’s Porch project to honor a man they call a Westonka legend.