Editing Park Rapids, Minnesota (section)

==Notable people==
Park Rapids is the birthplace of two notable authors, [[Will Weaver]] and Nathan Aaseng. Weaver was born to a farming family and educated at [[Saint Cloud State University]], the [[University of Minnesota]], and [[Stanford University]]. He worked as a farmer, an educator, and a fiction writer. Three of his best-known novels are ''Striking Out'', ''Farm Team'', and ''Hard Ball.'' They reflect Weaver's upbringing on a northern Minnesota farm. His writings have won several awards, including the Friends of American Writers Award (1989) and the Minnesota Book Award for Fiction (1989). Weaver now lives in [[Bemidji, Minnesota|Bemidji]].<ref>[http://find.galegroup.com.mctproxy.mnpals.net/srcx/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=Relevance&prodId=DC&tabID=T001&subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C14%2529Park%2BRapids%2BMN%2524&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R1&displaySubject=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C14%29Park+Rapids+MN%24&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&inPS=true&userGroupName=mnaminncom&sgCurrentPosition=0&contentSet=GSRC&docId=EJ2110100438&docType=GSRC  "Weaver, Will(iam (Weller) (1950-)."] ''UXL DISCovering Authors'' (online). ''Discovering Collection.'' Gale. 2003. Retrieved March 23, 2012.</ref>

Aaseng was the son of a minister and attended [[Luther College (Iowa)|Luther College]] and [[Luther Seminary]]. He worked as a microbiologist-biochemist and wrote juvenile nonfiction and fiction. His works include more than 130 books on a variety of subjects. Some examples are ''Big Red'', ''Wild Trek'', and the "You Are the Coach" series.<ref>[http://find.galegroup.com.mctproxy.mnpals.net/srcx/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=Relevance&prodId=DC&tabID=T001&subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C14%2529Park%2BRapids%2BMN%2524&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R1&displaySubject=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=3&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C14%29Park+Rapids+MN%24&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&inPS=true&userGroupName=mnaminncom&sgCurrentPosition=0&contentSet=GSRC&docId=EJ2110100002&docType=GSRC  "Aaseng, Nathan (1953-)."] ''UXL DISCovering Authors'' (online). ''Discovering Collection.'' Gale. 2003. Retrieved March 23, 2012.</ref>

Minnesota newspaper editor and legislator [[John A. Ainley, Jr.]], lived in Park Rapids.<ref>'John Ainley, former legislator and newspaper editor, dies,' '''Minneapolis Star Tribune''', Kavita Kumar, May 4, 2001</ref>

Iowa newspaper editor and legislator [[Thomas H. Miller (Iowa newspaperman)|Thomas Miller]] was born in Park Rapids.<ref>'William H. Miller-obituary,' '''Cherokee Daily Times''', May 31, 2001, pg. 2</ref>

Businesswoman and Minnesota state legislator [[Esther Miriam Fieldman]] lived in Park Rapids.<ref>'Esther Miriam Fieldman-obituary,' '''Minneapolis Star-Tribune''', July 2, 2007</ref>

Four-time U.S. [[Paralympian]] Aaron Pike was born in Park Rapids and spent his first year there before moving away for his father's military career. Pike continued to return to Park Rapids each summer and continues to list it as his hometown. He competes in wheelchair racing and [[Nordic skiing]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150227071131/http://www.teamusa.org/para-nordic-skiing/athletes/Aaron-Pike Aaron Pike] Team USA</ref>