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6 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY <br />City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT <br />OAK KNOLL ATHLETIC COMPLEX <br />(OKAC) <br />Oak Knoll Athletic Complex was developed in (‘91-’03) <br />with two full sized ballfi elds, two smaller ballfi elds, and two <br />rectangle fi elds. One of these baseball fi elds, Hale’s Field, <br />is actually owned and maintained by the school district. <br />The other full sized ballfi eld was removed in 2006 with the <br />development of the public works site. <br />LION JOHN WIECHT PARK <br />Lion John Wiecht Park is the home of two recently <br />constructed, high quality softball fi elds. These replaced a <br />single softball fi eld in 2020. These fi elds are the home of Elk <br />River High School’s softball team. <br />NO.PRIMARY <br />SPORT <br />SECONDARY <br />SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY <br />1 Softball/Baseball No City <br />2 Softball/Baseball No City <br />3 Football/Lacrosse Soccer Yes City <br />4 Football/Lacrosse Soccer Yes City <br />Hale’s Field is a School District Facility: <br />Baseball No School <br />NO.PRIMARY <br />SPORT <br />SECONDARY <br />SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY <br />1 Softball Yes School <br />2 Softball Yes School <br />KLIEVER LAKE PARK <br />Kliever Lake Park currently hosts football and lacrosse <br />practices. The park size is adequate for one rectangle fi eld, but <br />the parking situation is problematic. Youth soccer has been <br />relocated due to parking concerns. This facility works for the <br />time being, but is likely not a sustainable solution in the long <br />term without additional parking facilities. <br />CITY PARKS <br />In addition to the City’s main athletic facilities, some of the <br />neighborhood parks have been built with facilities such <br />as open playfi elds or other informal fi eld spaces. These are <br />typically not programmed for association uses except for <br />recreation level play, younger athletes, or when needed as <br />backup. <br />FURNITURE AND THINGS FIELD <br />HOUSE <br />While this study is primarily examining outdoor fi eld space, it <br />is worth noting that the City also built a fi eld house in 2020 <br />with 30,000 square feet of artifi cial turf and additional training <br />elements such as batting cages. <br />This facility can be utilized during the winter or in case of <br />inclement weather for practices. <br />SCHOOL FACILITIES <br />Elk River High School (ERHS) and the middle schools recently <br />underwent a major fi eld renovation including the addition <br />of synthetic turf and the reconstruction of other fi elds. The <br />renovation resulted in the overall addition of one baseball <br />fi eld (from one to two) and the loss of two softball fi elds. <br />The fi elds at ERHS are used by school teams and youth athletic <br />associations. <br />Lincoln and Parker Elementary Schools have 4 softball fi elds <br />together and Meadowvale has another two with the ability <br />to stripe additional rectangle fi elds. Twin Lakes has another <br />diamond and rectangle fi eld. Similar to neighborhood parks, <br />the elementary schools are not heavily programmed. <br />While the facilities are maintained by the schools, (rather than <br />the City) many participants and families do not understand or <br />care if the facility they are at is a School District facility or a City <br />facility. <br />It is worth noting that the recent renovations at the high <br />school temporarily created a very large shortage of fi eld space <br />in the community. This was around the same time that Lion <br />John Wiecht Park was undergoing renovations as well. This <br />created a period of very severe limitation to fi eld supply. As <br />fi elds come back on line, that is being reduced. <br />FUTURE EXPANSIONS <br />As the City continues to grow, parkland will need to be <br />developed to meet the community’s needs.