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Page 3 <br /> • neighborhood park needs, do not have new neighborhood parks identified in <br /> them. <br /> The park service areas will change, if the urban service district of Elk River <br /> is enlarged to include more residential land. The final version of the plan <br /> will also consider the cost of developing and maintaining these parks. <br /> Community Athletics <br /> Community athletics range from horseshoe pits and sand volleyball, which <br /> can be accommodated in neighborhood parks, to youth soccer and adult <br /> softball which require additional facilities. The Park and Recreation <br /> Commission has met with representatives of the various youth sports <br /> associations. They have all indicated that they are in dire need of additional <br /> facilities. <br /> The problem staff and the Park and Recreation Commission has to deal with <br /> when planning for organized sports (youth and adult) is that these activities <br /> draw from a larger area than the City of Elk River. The area they draw from <br /> is basically defined by the entire school district. <br /> • To deal with this, a LOCAL RATIO (facilities needed per capita) was <br /> developed by dividing the population of the school district by the current <br /> number of each type of sport facility in the school district. This local ratio <br /> was then used to project the ultimate number of each type of facility that will <br /> be needed to serve Elk River's population at full development (estimated at <br /> 40,000 under the current Comprehensive Plan). <br /> From the ultimate number of facilities needed to serve our population, Elk <br /> River's fair share of existing and projected school facilities was subtracted. <br /> The recommended number of facilities that should be the City of Elk River's <br /> responsibility, is found on "Exhibit C". <br /> Acquisition of land to accommodate community athletic facilities was <br /> identified as a priority (prior to the land becoming too expensive or <br /> unattainable). Immediate development of certain facilities is also critical. <br /> Youth organized sports draw from the entire school district. The school <br /> district is made up of parts or all of 5 counties, 7 cities, and 8 townships. For <br /> efficiency, one entity to coordinate these activities seems logical. The Park <br /> and Recreation Commission has been meeting with other communities to <br /> encourage them to support the one entity philosophy. <br /> • <br /> PP-sr/bz <br />