7.2.A. PRSR 03-09-2011Item: 7.2.A.
MEMORANDUM
ver
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Steve Benoit, Recreation Manager
DATE: March 1, 201 1
SUBJECT: Policy for Field Use
The Parks and Recreation Commission has been reviewing the current policy for the use of
City athletic fields. At the February meeting, additional information was requested regarding
The Elk River Youth Football Association's use of Ciry Fields as compared to the Parks and
Recreation Flag Football program. Staff met with a representative from the Elk River Youth
Football Association and following is a compIlation of the information gathered:
Elk River Football Association Information
Enrollment Numbers
• 2008 - 449
• 2009 - 445
• 2010 - 490
• 2011 - 515-520 (projected)
Team Information
• 28 teams in 2010
• Serving youth grades 2-8
• Number of Youth Per Team
o Grades 2-3 15
o Grades 4-6 17-18
o Grades 7-8 20-21
Field Usaee
• Orono Complex on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in fall. The Orono Complex
includes four softball fields on which one football field is lined on each softball field.
• Games are started at 6:15 pm and 7:45 pm
• Only games are played at the Orono Athletic Complex, no practices
• Eight games played per evening
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Historical Information
• Elk River Youth Football was started in 1990
$20,000 has been contributed to the Ciry for field improvements
Majority of participants are Elk River Residents. The Youth Football Association
promotes and enforces the idea of participants playing with the organization in their
home communities.
Elk River Parks and Recreation Flag Football Program
Enrollment Numbers
• 2008 45
• 2009 - 97
• 2010 - 99 (program reached capacity)
• 2011 - 150 (potential with adequate field space)
Team Information
• 6 teams in 2010
• Serving youth grades Pre-K - 2nd
• Number of Youth Per Team
0 16-17
Field Usaee
• Kuss Field on Thursday Evenings in fall. Kuss is composed on one softball field on
which three football fields are lined.
• Games are started at 6:00 pm
• Three games played per evening
The Parks and Recreation Flag Football program has the opportunity to expand. An
expansion would require the reallocation of fields from the Elk River Youth Football
program.
Staff is looking for direction from the Commission on how these types of field allocation
issues should philosophically be approached. Beyond this example of flag football other
program areas can face this same issue of needing additional field space in order to expand.
Staff is requesting direction from the Commission on whether fields should be shifted to
City use in order to address the demand for a program.
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