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47 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan Chapter 5: How We Get There <br />Youth Athletic Complex (YAC) <br />The expansion of the YAC will serve the city’s athletic facility needs as the <br />population grows. Elk River has already experienced significant population <br />growth since the last ballfields at YAC were built 18 years ago, resulting in <br />increased demand for multi-use and softball fields. <br />Expansion of the YAC at the current location works well as the city looks to <br />the future. Development of the Focused Area Study area will provide visitors <br />with easily accessible dining, shopping, and recreation options. Anticipated land <br />needed for expansion of the YAC leaves 75-80% of the land to the north for <br />industrial land uses and uses the land furthest from Jarvis Street, which is the least <br />desirable land from a development standpoint. Other benefits of locating the <br />athletic complex next to industrial land uses include parking efficiencies, different <br />use times, which will reduce traffic impacts, and fewer adjacency concerns with <br />crowd noise and lighting. <br />The YAC plan expands the footprint of the facility. In order to maximize the <br />available multi-use field space, 165th is re-routed to meet Jarvis Street when it <br />extends north. Expansion also improves maintenance for the fields as they can be <br />rotated and rested to prevent overuse. An additional softball pinwheel will provide <br />dedicated facilities for softball and will allow for larger tournaments to be hosted <br />at the YAC. Alternately if Hale’s Field will not be upgraded to a destination field, <br />facilities for the different levels of baseball could be built in the north, and the <br />existing south pinwheel could be dedicated to softball. <br />Support facilities such as expanded paved parking, maintenance sheds, concessions, <br />restrooms with flush toilets, water, batting cages, a storm safe room, loop trails, <br />and playgrounds are provided to improve the players’ and spectators’ experience. <br />Page 115 of 240