Pleasant Hill’s Hickory Glen Park is 77 acres of spectacular.”This is a great mix of the sports fields, and the art, and the fishing and soft trails. It has something for everyone, and we hope that people are out here making memories together,” Pleasant Hill Assistant City Manager Madeline Sturms said.Sturms helped lay the groundwork for the park in 2015. So did Jim and Connie Courcier’s son.”We get choked up,” Connie Courcier said, holding back tears.Rick Courcier, an Osceola native, was Pleasant Hill’s director of parks and rec. His parents say he loved fun, sports, the outdoors, and the community he served.”Pleasant Hill was his home and his family,” Connie Courcier said.Rick Courcier died of cancer in September 2020. When Jim and Connie Courcier drive from Osceola to visit the park, they see part of their son in the people who use it.”We came a couple of weeks ago and kids were playing soccer and there were people fishing,” Connie Courcier said.Fishing in Rick’s Reservoir, named in honor of their son and friend to so many others.”Being able to carry the legacy that Rick left in the community has just been incredible for us who had the great fortune of working with him,” Sturms said.Connie Courcier expressed gratitude.”It means a lot to us. He was always active and dedicated to this town and it’s nice,” Connie Courcier said.Ryan Merritt is the city’s current director of parks and recreation. He says even though he didn’t know Rick personally, it’s been important to him to help carry on his legacy.The first few phases are now complete. The price tag currently sits at $25 million. The city says a mix of large grants and city dollars have paid for it.An official groundbreaking is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1000 SE 68th Street. Jim and Connie Courcier will be there.
Pleasant Hill’s Hickory Glen Park is 77 acres of spectacular.
“This is a great mix of the sports fields, and the art, and the fishing and soft trails. It has something for everyone, and we hope that people are out here making memories together,” Pleasant Hill Assistant City Manager Madeline Sturms said.
Sturms helped lay the groundwork for the park in 2015. So did Jim and Connie Courcier’s son.
“We get choked up,” Connie Courcier said, holding back tears.
Rick Courcier, an Osceola native, was Pleasant Hill’s director of parks and rec. His parents say he loved fun, sports, the outdoors, and the community he served.
“Pleasant Hill was his home and his family,” Connie Courcier said.
Rick Courcier died of cancer in September 2020. When Jim and Connie Courcier drive from Osceola to visit the park, they see part of their son in the people who use it.
“We came a couple of weeks ago and kids were playing soccer and there were people fishing,” Connie Courcier said.
Fishing in Rick’s Reservoir, named in honor of their son and friend to so many others.
“Being able to carry the legacy that Rick left in the community has just been incredible for us who had the great fortune of working with him,” Sturms said.
Connie Courcier expressed gratitude.
“It means a lot to us. He was always active and dedicated to this town and it’s nice,” Connie Courcier said.
Ryan Merritt is the city’s current director of parks and recreation. He says even though he didn’t know Rick personally, it’s been important to him to help carry on his legacy.
The first few phases are now complete. The price tag currently sits at $25 million. The city says a mix of large grants and city dollars have paid for it.
An official groundbreaking is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1000 SE 68th Street. Jim and Connie Courcier will be there.