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1 2 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
<br />City of Elk River, Minnesota
<br />FIELD RATIOS
<br />In order to evaluate fi eld needs to ensure an adequate supply moving forward, fi eld to population ratios are
<br />considered. This study is considering growth through 2035. The last major expansion of fi eld space was in 2005
<br />with the addition of full sized baseball and rectangle fi elds. This table examines how the city stacks up now
<br />compared with after its most recent expansion and following projected growth through 2035. The goal of the
<br />city should be to proactively meet current and future demand, rather than remaining in “catch up” mode.
<br />Generally, the study is evaluating competition level fi elds at the main facilities. Both city and city + school
<br />numbers are considered. The prevalence of school use on specifi c fi elds also impacts desired ratios as there is
<br />some overlap, but use may be limited for non-school athletics.
<br />The surplus/ratio defi cit is a good starting point, but because of fl exibility and other options, this only informs
<br />the recommendation strategies, instead of being a hard and fast rule.
<br />This table is measuring the number of “competition level” fi elds in the community. There is some objectivity to
<br />this classifi cation, but generally it includes fi elds that have the necessary infrastructure to be used in a game
<br />setting with appropriate dimensions for the sport at a level beyond practice or basic recreation. For example,
<br />a fi eld that is only big enough to accommodate T-Ball or U-8 soccer would not be included. This may include
<br />elements like outfi eld fences, dugouts, areas for spectators, and adequate parking nearby. Baseball fi eld
<br />dimensions vary, but outfi eld lengths were evaluated against the typical basepath dimensions for age.
<br />Rectangle fi elds tend to be more fl exible, but needed to have a long dimension of at least 330 feet, preferably
<br />360-400’ by at least 210’ plus some spill over space (for benches, out of bounds balls, etc.). Rectangle fi elds are
<br />sometimes split into multiple youth fi elds with smaller dimensions, but in this instance are not counted as
<br />multiple fi elds.
<br />FIELD TYPE FIELDS CURRENT
<br />RATIO
<br />1 FIELD/__
<br />POP.
<br />(26,400)
<br />2005
<br />RATIO
<br />1 FIELD/__
<br />POP.
<br />(19,700)
<br />DESIRED
<br />RATIO
<br />1 FIELD/__
<br />POP.
<br />2035 RATIO
<br />1 FIELD/__ POP.
<br />(28,659)
<br />NO BUILD
<br />SCENARIO
<br />SURPLUS/
<br />DEFICIT
<br />IN 2035
<br />NO BUILD
<br />SCENARIO
<br />CITY ONLY90’ Baseball
<br />Diamonds
<br />2 13,200 9,850 10,000 14,330 1 Short
<br />YAC (2)
<br />75’ Baseball
<br />Diamonds
<br />1A 26,400 19,700 15,000B 28,659 1 Short OKAC (1)
<br />60’ Softball/
<br />Youth Baseball
<br />11C 2,400 1,791 2,000 2,605 3-4 Short
<br />DAAC (4), YAC (4),
<br />OKAC (1), LJW (2)
<br />Full Sized
<br />Rectangle Fields
<br />3 8,800 6,567 4,000
<br />D 9,553 4-5 Short OKAC (2), YAC (1)CITY + SCHOOLS90’ Baseball
<br />Diamonds
<br />4 6,600 4,925 5,000 7,165 2 Short
<br />YAC (2), Hales, Salk
<br />75’ Baseball
<br />Diamonds
<br />1A 26,400 19,700 10,000B 28,659 2 Short OKAC (1)
<br />60’ Softball/
<br />Youth Baseball
<br />14C 1,886 1,407 1,500 2,047 5-6 Short
<br />DAAC (4), YAC (4),
<br />OKAC (1), LJW (2),
<br />VMS (3)
<br />Full Sized
<br />Rectangle Fields
<br />9E 2,933 2,189 2,000 3,184 5-6 Short OKAC (2), YAC (1),
<br />ERHS (1), VMS (2),
<br />SMS(2), TLES (1)
<br />A - DAAC (4) and YAC (4) can both accommodate 75’ basepaths, but are primarily used for 60’. None have grass infi elds.
<br />B - Dedicated 75’ fi elds - the ability of DAAC and YAC 60’ fi elds to fl ex allows for fl exibility. School renovations reduced capacity.
<br />C - No 60’ city fi eld has a grass infi eld. A newly re-worked 60’ fi eld at Vandenberg has a grass infi eld.
<br />D - This ratio varies from the 2005 ratio due to the rise of lacrosse, soccer, and fl ag football since that time.
<br />E - 5 Rectangle fi elds are currently programmed for competition. An additional 4 fi elds are typically practice fi elds, but could accommodate soccer/
<br />lacrosse games at full size. They do not have goalposts for football.
<br />Sources: Elk River, HKGi, NRPA
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