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Page 3 <br />neighborhood park needs, do not have new neighborhood parks ident~ed 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 wiLi <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•srlbz <br />