8.1 PRSR 02-08-2023
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. Updated: January 2023
Request for Action
To
Parks and Recreation Commission
Item Number
8.1
Agenda Section
General Business
Meeting Date
February 8, 2023
Prepared by
Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Manager
Item Description
Athletic Fields Analysis Discussion
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Discussion
Background/Discussion
Kevin Clarke from HKGi will present the latest draft of the Athletic Fields Study including overall findings,
existing conditions, and recommendations. It was sent early to all Commissioner via email on Friday, January 27
for review. Kevin presented the first draft to the Commission at the November meeting.
Financial Impact
$30,000 is in the PIF to complete this project.
Mission/Policy/Goal
Opportunity to live, work and play
Attachments
Elk River Athletic Fields Study February 2023 Draft
ELK RIVER
ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
Elk River Parks & Recreation
February 2023
DRAFT
2 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
• Mayor John J. Dietz
• Cory Grupa - Ward 1
• Matt Westgaard - Ward 2
• Mike Beyer - Ward 3
• Jennifer Wagner - Ward 4
PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSION
• Dave Anderson
• Ryan Holmgren
• Greg Loidolt
• Mike Niziolek
• Mark Rathbun
• Andy Soltvedt
• David Williams
STAFF
Michael Hecker
Parks and Recreation Director
Tim Sevcik
Street and Park Superintendent
Warren Ellingworth
Recreation Coordinator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Pkwy NW, Elk River
MN 55330
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
INTRODUCTION/STUDY PURPOSE 4
OVERALL FINDINGS/FACILITIES 5
THE STATE OF YOUTH ATHLETICS 7
DEMOGRAPHICS 10
FIELD RATIOS 12
SOFTBALL 18
BASEBALL 19
FOOTBALL 20
LACROSSE 21
IMPLEMENTATION 22
3 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The city of Elk River is a growing community at the northwestern edge of the Twin Cities metro. The city is “Powered by Nature”
and the importance of parks and recreation is enormous in this community. Many of Elk River’s families have been a part of the
youth athletics associations and sports are part of what helps defi ne Elk River’s character.
The city has worked hard to provide its youth and adult athletes with safe and fun athletic facilities. This is most recently
evidenced in the development of the Furniture and Things Community Even Center multi-purpose facility, Lion John Weicht Park,
and improvements at the schools. This study is to help understand the current and future needs of the community, protecting
existing assets, and also serving as guide for new investments. This was completed through review of city qualitative and
quantitative data, user group input, and consultant analysis of trends, demographic projections, and recreation standards.
Elk River continues to grow, in both overall and youth population. This is putting additional demand on the athletic facilities.
The study identifi ed qualitative and quantity/capacity related needs and opportunities, both currently and anticipated. Needs
identifi ed included:
Supporting and
strengthening the
relationship between the
schools and the city for
the provision of athletic
facilities in the community
Longer term expansion
of capacity through
construction of
additional fi elds
Continuing to pursue
tournaments that
provide unique hosting
experiences for the
athletes and bring
people to Elk River
Safety and user experience
improvements such as
netting, restrooms, and other
support facilities as well as
improved maintenance (both
city and school) of fi elds
This study recommends:
• Continue to maintain additional fi elds that can fl ex in order
to accommodate weather and tournament induced peaks in
demand.
• Improve facilities at DAAC to modernize the facility and improve
user experience
• Continue to limit access after weather events or long winters.
• Add 2 60’ and 2 75’ baseball fi elds with grass infi elds. This could
happen entirely at YAC or may include upgrades to the ballfi elds
at Oak Knoll to dedicated baseball fi elds with grass infi elds.
• Addition of 1-2 90’ baseball fi elds in the community
• Continue to evaluate usage, and if baseball shifts to OKAC,
increase availability for softball at YAC.
• Consider the development of an additional 3-4 small fi elds
with 200-225’ fences in the long run (by 2035) to accommodate
growing and future demand.
• Consider the development of 4 rectangle fi elds over the long
term (by 2035) to accommodate growing and future demand.
• Explore bringing amenities to the fi eld at YAC similar to what has been constructed at the ballfi elds. If the expansion occurs, it
may be better to focus investments on support facilities in that area.
• Continue to work with youth associations to bring more tournaments to Elk River, particularly with weekend availability.
• Consider opportunities to double up scheduling, particularly when school users do not go later than 6 p.m.
Sources: US Census, Elk River Comprehensive Plan, ESRI
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035DAACOKACYACLJWP renovationYAC expansionPopulation growth and Field Development in Elk River
4 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
INTRODUCTION/STUDY PURPOSE
The city of Elk River is recognized for its progressive park system, providing a wide range of passive
and active recreation experiences for residents and visitors alike. Within the city’s parks, Elk River
boasts a number of exceptional athletic facilities that have long supported the community and
hosted many of the community’s youth as they participated in sports. These are the facilities that
have served as the backdrop for many residents’ life lessons and lifelong memories.
Elk River has a commitment to ensuring that the people who live and visit the city have access to
safe, quality fi elds. As a city “Powered by Nature” and focused on being a great place to live, athletic
facilities are one of the important elements of the community. The city also knows that the whole
community benefi ts when the youth have the positive infl uences associated with playing sports:
exercise, teamwork, dedication, confi dence, friends, and fun.
THIS STUDY
The city of Elk River is in the process
of updating and addressing
many of the athletics and park
needs in the community. The past
few years have seen signifi cant
investment in the Furniture and
Things Community Event Center
multipurpose facility, and the
John Barth Softball Fields at Lion
John Weicht Park. ISD 728 School
District has recently upgraded
many of their facilities as well at Elk
River High School and the middle
schools. At the same time, many
of the fi eld sports are at facilities
that were built 20-30 years ago or
longer, when population was much
smaller and needs were diff erent.
This study considers the current
context of fi eld sports in Elk River
and the future trends aff ecting
athletics and population to provide
an approach to maintaining and
expanding facilities through 2035.
This study’s process drew from
three main sources:
• The city of Elk River’s fi rst-hand
experiences, policies, and fi eld
use data
• Surveys with user groups
• Consultant review of data,
demographic projections, level
of service standards, facility
evaluations, and current trends
in athletic facilities
YOUTH SPORTS
The city’s youth programs are strong, with Elk River Youth Athletics (ERYA) leading the
off erings in the community. Various Elk River youth athletic organizations provide a
range of competition levels across diff erent age ranges. The sports off ered include:
• Baseball
• Softball
• Football (Flag and Tackle)
• Lacrosse
Elk River families that participate in Soccer are typically doing so through a regional
club such as Boreal FC that serves players across the northern suburbs.
Following an initial decline after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, participation
numbers have rebounded well and are anticipated to continue to strengthen.
SCHOOL SPORTS
Outdoor athletics through the schools occur at the high school level. Elk River High
School underwent extensive renovations in 2021 to improve the conditions at the
school.
Elk River High School has a number of dedicated fi eld spaces with priority in the
afternoons after school lets out. While some youth athletic programming occurs on
these fi elds, they understandably have second priority after school needs, such as
games and practices. Games especially are more likely to run later into the evening and
bump youth sports.
ADULT
Adult softball does continue to utilize the Dave Anderson Athletic Complex. As
participation numbers have declined signifi cantly, the future of adult slow pitch softball
in the community is in question. The number of teams and the number of nights has
fallen off .
There are legion and VFW summer baseball teams in town. These teams typically utilize
Hale’s Field, which is a school district facility.
TOURNAMENTS/TRAINING
From time to time, the facilities are also utilized by outside groups and schools, whether
that is for tournaments, camps, training, or other events. These are typically scheduled
around the youth athletic organizations programming that have priority. Tournaments
are an important economic development opportunity for communities and one of the
ways associations fundraise to keep participant prices down.
5 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
OVERALL FINDINGS/
FACILITIES
EXISTING FACILITIES
YOUTH ATHLETIC COMPLEX (YAC)
Elk River’s Youth Athletic Complex (YAC) is a set of fi elds dedicated for the
community’s young athletes. The pinwheel was built in (‘91-’03) with the additions of
the two south ballfi elds in 2004 and the lighted rectangle fi elds in 2006. Lights were
added to the diamonds before the 2020 seasons.
YAC has expansion potential to the south of the existing facilities.
NO. PRIMARY SPORT SECONDARY SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY
1 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball Yes City
2 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball Yes City
3 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball Yes City
4 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball Yes City
5 90’ Baseball Yes City
6 90’ Baseball Yes City
7 Football/Lacrosse Soccer Yes City
DAVE ANDERSON ATHLETIC COMPLEX (DAAC)
Dave Anderson Athletic Complex (DAAC) was built before 1985, replacing a baseball
fi eld that was there in the late 1950s. It has been updated over time. DAAC served
as the hub of adult softball during its peak in the 1980s and 90s, and has continued
to host adult softball games, while also providing a venue for youth baseball and
softball. With infi elds that can fl ex between 60 and 90 foot basepaths, DAAC can
host games for 12/13 year old baseball on 70’/75’ basepaths, although it does
have skinned infi elds. The 285’ fences are adequate for a number of diff erent uses,
although adult men’s slow pitch softball prefers a longer fence in the 300’-315’ range.
The dimensions and layout of the fi elds do create concerns related to foul balls and
associated safety concerns.
With unfenced outfi eld foul territories, DAAC can be striped for football and lacrosse,
although lacrosse is more challenging as the seasons overlap with the primary
baseball & softball uses.
Parking at the site can be reliant on adjacent County Fairground parking. This is
limited during the times in the summer when the fair is active. Furthermore, the long
term location of the fair remains a question and it is unclear if DAAC can anticipate
that support parking in the future.
A small baseball/softball fi eld was removed in 2021 from the adjacent Orono Park as
part of the redevelopment at that facility.
NO. PRIMARY SPORT SECONDARY SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY
1 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball, Flag Football Yes City
2 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball, Flag Football Yes City
3 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball, Flag Football Yes City
4 Softball/60’ Baseball 75’ Baseball, Flag Football Yes City
6 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
OAK KNOLL ATHLETIC COMPLEX
(OKAC)
Oak Knoll Athletic Complex was developed in (‘91-’03). It is
now home to one intermediate sized ballfi eld, one smaller
ballfi eld, and two rectangle fi elds. A full sized ballfi eld that
used to be at the complex was removed in 2006 with the
development of the public works site. ISD 728 owns and
operates the adjacent Hales Field, which is not part of OKAC.
LION JOHN WEICHT PARK
Lion John Weicht Park is the home of two recently
constructed, high quality softball fi elds. These replaced a
single softball fi eld in 2020. These fi elds, now known as the
John Barth Softball Fields are the home of Elk River High
School’s softball team.
NO. PRIMARY SPORT
SECONDARY
SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY
1 75’ Baseball No City
2 Softball/60’ Baseball No City
3 Football/Lacrosse Soccer Yes City
4 Football/Lacrosse Soccer Yes City
Hale’s Field is a School District Facility:
Baseball No School
NO. PRIMARY SPORT
SECONDARY
SPORTS LIT? PRIORITY
1 Softball Yes School
2 Softball Yes School
KLIEVER LAKE PARK
Kliever Lake Park currently hosts football and lacrosse
practices. The park size is adequate for one rectangle fi eld, but
the parking situation is problematic. Youth soccer has been
relocated due to parking concerns. This facility works for the
time being, but is likely not a sustainable solution in the long
term without additional parking facilities.
CITY PARKS
In addition to the city’s main athletic facilities, some of the
neighborhood parks have been built with facilities such
as open playfi elds or other informal fi eld spaces. These are
typically not programmed for association uses except for
recreation level play, younger athletes, or when needed as
backup.
FURNITURE AND THINGS
COMMUNITY EVENT CENTER
(MULTI PURPOSE FACILITY)
While this study is primarily examining outdoor fi eld space,
it is worth noting that the city also built a fi eld house in 2020
with 30,000 square feet of artifi cial turf and additional training
elements such as batting cages.
This facility can be utilized during the winter or in case of
inclement weather for practices.
SCHOOL FACILITIES
ISD 728 underwent major fi eld renovations at Elk River
High School (ERHS) and the middle schools. The renovation
included the addition of synthetic turf and the reconstruction
of other fi elds. The renovation resulted in the overall addition
of one baseball fi eld (from one to two) and the loss of two
softball fi elds. ERHS’s primary varsity baseball fi eld, Hales Field,
is across Proctor Avenue from the main campus and adjacent
to OKAC.
The fi elds at ERHS are used by school teams and youth athletic
associations.
Lincoln and Parker Elementary Schools have 4 softball fi elds
together and Meadowvale has another two with the ability
to stripe additional rectangle fi elds. Twin Lakes has another
diamond and rectangle fi eld. Similar to neighborhood parks,
the elementary schools are not heavily programmed.
While the facilities are maintained by the schools, (rather than
the city) many participants and families do not understand or
care if the facility they are at is a school district facility or a city
facility.
It is worth noting that the recent renovations at the high
school temporarily created a very large shortage of fi eld space
in the community. This was around the same time that Lion
John Weicht Park was undergoing renovations as well. This
created a period of very severe limitation to fi eld supply. As
fi elds come back on line, that is being reduced.
FUTURE EXPANSION
As the city continues to grow, parkland will need to be
developed to meet the community’s needs.
7 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
THE STATE OF YOUTH ATHLETICS
Nationally, youth athletics is changing dramatically. From spending to specialization, safety to expectations, the
standards that facilities and associations are being held to keep rising.
SPENDING
Youth sports has become big business. Between equipment and fees, many
families can expect to spend at least $500 per athlete, per season. At higher levels
of competition, such as traveling and club, that price tag can easily reach into the
thousands of dollars. Scholarships, equipment swaps, and other programs may
help blunt that cost for some families, but in general youth sports represent a real
fi nancial commitment. Spending on youth sports has risen approximately 55% from
2010 to 2017 and represented about $19 billion in spending annually in the US
before the pandemic. By population, this means that Minnesotans spend more than
$325 million per year on youth sports. This trend does not show signs of slowing
down and spending is expected to continue to grow.
One of the reasons that traveling and club sports become more expensive so
quickly is participation in tournaments. Tournament registration fees, gas, food, and
lodging all get added to team fees and equipment spending.
Many Cities have recognized the value of youth athletics and see it as an economic
development opportunity. Elite facilities draw families to a community to live and
work. They also bring in outside spending through games and tournaments. The
Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC) is a statewide group that has
economic development as their primary purpose. MASC operates facilities across
the state, including the National Sports Center in Blaine, plus ten other facilities
that bring tourism dollars to the state. A 2018 study found visitors to MASC facilities
spent $76.6 Million that year alone.
Elk River has developed a great facility for hosting tournaments in the Youth Athletic
Complex. The primary issue from an economic development perspective is the
location of the complex, relative to the commercial nodes in Elk River (visitors
coming from the metro are more likely to stop in Ramsey or Otsego), and a
lack of lodging options locally to help keep dollars in the community. The
other facilities in Elk River are better positioned to capture food, drink, and
gas spending.
SPECIALIZATION
More and more athletes are opting to specialize in specifi c sports. This
may be due to really loving a particular sport, feeling pressure from
coaches or parents to participate in off -season training or second
seasons, or the perception that specialization will allow them to get
better at sport specifi c skills. While research is showing benefi ts to cross
training, trends still show specialization occurring more and more.
The implications of this for facilities are longer/more seasons for specifi c
sports and demand for specialized training facilities and coaches. The city of
Elk River has seen pressure for early and late season use on fi elds. Additionally,
some of the diamonds are striped to accommodate other sports that use
fi elds in the fall. This demand makes it more challenging for maintenance, resting
fi elds, and protecting them when they are vulnerable during freeze/thaw cycles or
after weather events. The recent addition of turf at the Furniture and Things Center has
started to relieve some of the pressure, particularly after weather events.
“Spending on youth sports has risen
approximately 55% from 2010 to 2017
and represented about $19 billion in
spending annually in the US before the
pandemic. By population, this means
that Minnesotans spend more than
$325 million per year on youth sports”.
55%
2010 2017
8 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
TIME COMMITMENTS
Talk with many parents and one will realize the amount of time that is dedicated
to supporting their children in youth athletics. Driving to and from practices,
watching games, and volunteering is taking up more and more of a parent’s time.
When you introduce weekend tournaments, that commitment is even more
prominent. As families spend more time at fi elds, ballparks, and other sports
facilities, the demand for support facilities also grows. This may include things
such as wi-fi , concessions/food, and playgrounds/splash pads for siblings.
HIGHER EXPECTATIONS
Between the fi nancial and time commitments that many families make for youth
athletics, it is not surprising that expectations about facilities and competition
have risen. Families and athletic associations are requesting more of the park
organizations that support them. This includes the quality of fi elds, the times that
are available for practice, the support facilities, and the overall user experience.
SAFETY
Safety has always been an important consideration for youth athletics, but recent
developments have shone a light on it even more. As we learn more about
concussions and their long lasting impacts, there is a growing push to change
and improve games to reduce the risk of head injuries. While football is the most
cited sport, changes have also come to other sports as well. Heading in soccer
and hitting at the younger levels in hockey and lacrosse have both been subject
to recent rule changes and shifts in how sports are played and practiced. This has
also led to increased requirements for the training of coaches and in some cases,
the introduction of baseline testing for athletes.
As specialization increases, so does the potential for specifi c use injuries. The
University of Wisconsin has led the research on specialization and the relationship
to injuries. One of their key fi ndings is that youth athletes that only participate in a
single sport for a larger portion of the year are more likely to suff er repetitive use/
overuse injuries and a higher prevalence of lower body injuries in general. This
has the potential to change training practices for athletes, particularly in sports
that have multiple seasons.
Since 2020, the impact of COVID-19 has been felt in athletics. The need for social
distancing has changed the way dugouts and sidelines are designed and operate.
Moving forward, new facilities may expand these areas to accommodate the
requirement for more room. Indoor facilities will need to pay more attention to air
circulation and fi ltration. Players are also being tested and it is not uncommon for
athletes to have to miss competitions and training if they are exposed or infected.
The impacts of this time off and the potential cardiac impacts necessitate an
informed approach to bringing players back into game shape.
Facilities are also improving with regards to safety. While some older folks may
brag about playing on the sandlot with rocks and packed dirt, playing surfaces
are much improved and players and parents are demanding safer fi elds. Fields
are more closely managed to ensure a more consistent and safer surface. This
can include the use of sand based fi elds, new ag-lime technologies, irrigation,
improved drainage, warning tracks, and artifi cial turf.
9 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
DIVERGENCE OF COMPETITION LEVELS
While many youth sports are becoming more competitive and this is driving
many of the expectations about associations, facilities, and investment, it is
important that communities retain a variety of off erings for youth. Rec leagues
provide a lower cost/lower time investment option that still comes with the many
benefi ts of youth sports participation, and may be especially important for kids
from lower income households or those without family connections to athletics.
For families making less than $50,000 per year, cost is the most common reason
given for why their kids do not play organized sports according to the Aspen
Institute. For the traveling and club teams, rec/in-house teams are important for
getting players into a sport and supporting player development.
The terminology varies from sport to sport but there are three main levels of
competition:
• In-House/Recreational
• Traveling
• Club
The parents of most children playing today played in local team sports often
competing against players from their own city or region, depending on the
sport. The expansion of traveling and club teams has been a signifi cant shift in
the youth sports landscape in the last generation. Elk River’s approach has been
to prioritize community based programs, and recognize that there will be some
additional demand for facilities from outside organizations or associations.
For families
making less than
$50,000 per year,
cost is the most
common reason
given for why
their kids do not
play organized
sports. Rec/in-
house teams are
important for
getting players
into a sport and
supporting player
development
1 0 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
DEMOGRAPHICS
The city of Elk River has grown signifi cantly since the 1970s and continues to grow steadily. The
city still has signifi cant buildable land and is projected to continue to add population for the
foreseeable future.
When DAAC was built, the city of Elk River was fewer than 9,000 people. The initial development
of OKAC and YAC occurred in the 1990s as the city grew from 11,143 to 16,447 and was about
half the size it currently is. In 2005 when YAC was expanded, the city was still under 20,000
people. Since then the city has added more than 6,000 residents and is anticipated to add at
least 2,300 more by 2035.
Sources: US Census, Elk River Comprehensive Plan, ESRI
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035DAACOKACYACLJWPYAC expansionYEARPOPULATION (APPROX.)POPULATION CHANGE TO 2022 (APPROX.)POPULATION CHANGE TO 2035 (APPROX.)Building of Dave Anderson Athletic
Complex (DAAC)
<1985 9,000 17,400 19,700
Building of Youth Athletic Complex (YAC) 1997 15,000 11,400 13,700
Building of Oak Knoll Athletic Complex
(OKAC)
Early 1990s 13,000 13,400 15,700
Expansion of Youth Athletic Complex 2005 19,700 6,700 9,000
Renovations to Lion John Weicht Park 2020 25,800 600 2,900
1 1 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
With regards to youth demographics, Elk River continues to add younger
residents. Since 2010, the youth population has grown by approximately 400
people. This is expected to continue to over 500 by 2027. Growth has largely
come in the 8-18 year olds rather than at the younger levels. This trend is
expected to shift somewhat to younger age levels leading the way, while the
older age groups stay stable or grow slightly. This slowdown in the teenage
demographics is a national trend, and not unique to Elk River.
This expanding age group in the 2022 to 2027 time frame will be reaching
athletic participation ages in the following 5-10 years, and athletic facility
demands are likely to grow even more then.
Sources: US Census, ESRI
AGE POP.
2010
POP.
2022
TREND
FROM
2010
TO
2022
COHORT
FROM
2010 TO
2022
POP.
2027
TREND
FROM
2022
TO
2027
COHORT
FROM
2022 TO
2027
<1 357 355 -2 378 23
1 342 346 4 366 20
2 390 388 -2 407 19
3 353 381 28 393 12
4 417 410 -7 423 13
5 385 384 -1 393 9 38
6 379 396 17 396 0 50
7 402 387 -15 389 2 1
8 367 390 23 384 -6 3
9 372 388 16 386 -2 -24
10 355 396 41 401 5 17
11 347 403 56 398 -5 2
12 355 390 35 33 397 7 10
13 345 386 41 44 393 7 3
14 338 376 38 -14 383 7 -5
15 351 391 40 38 383 -8 -13
16 345 367 22 -50 365 -2 -38
17 335 370 35 -15 372 2 -18
18 308 329 21 -50 337 8 -49
TOTALS 8853 9255 9371
“Since 2010, the youth population has
grown by approximately 400 people.
This is expected to continue to over
500 by 2027. This expanding age
group in the 2022 to 2027 time frame
will be reaching athletic participation
ages in the following 5-10 years, and
athletic facility demands are likely to
grow even more then.”
500
1 2 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
FIELD RATIOS
In order to evaluate fi eld needs to ensure an adequate supply moving forward, fi eld to population ratios are
considered. This study is considering growth through 2035. The last major expansion of fi eld space was in 2005
with the addition of full sized baseball and rectangle fi elds. This table examines how the city stacks up now
compared with after its most recent expansion and following projected growth through 2035. The goal of the
city should be to proactively meet current and future demand, rather than remaining in “catch up” mode.
Generally, the study is evaluating competition level fi elds at the main facilities. Both city and city + school
numbers are considered. The prevalence of school use on specifi c fi elds also impacts desired ratios as there is
some overlap, but use may be limited for non-school athletics.
The surplus/ratio defi cit is a good starting point, but because of fl exibility and other options, this only informs
the recommendation strategies, instead of being a hard and fast rule.
This table is measuring the number of “competition level” fi elds in the community. There is some objectivity to
this classifi cation, but generally it includes fi elds that have the necessary infrastructure to be used in a game
setting with appropriate dimensions for the sport at a level beyond practice or basic recreation. For example,
a fi eld that is only big enough to accommodate T-Ball or U-8 soccer would not be included. This may include
elements like outfi eld fences, dugouts, areas for spectators, and adequate parking nearby. Baseball fi eld
dimensions vary, but outfi eld lengths were evaluated against the typical basepath dimensions for age.
Rectangle fi elds tend to be more fl exible, but needed to have a long dimension of at least 330 feet, preferably
360-400’ by at least 210’ plus some spill over space (for benches, out of bounds balls, etc.). Rectangle fi elds are
sometimes split into multiple youth fi elds with smaller dimensions, but in this instance are not counted as
multiple fi elds.
FIELD TYPE FIELDS CURRENT
RATIO
1 FIELD/__
POP.
(26,400)
2005
RATIO
1 FIELD/__
POP.
(19,700)
DESIRED
RATIO
1 FIELD/__
POP.
2035 RATIO
1 FIELD/__ POP.
(28,659)
NO BUILD
SCENARIO
SURPLUS/
DEFICIT
IN 2035
NO BUILD
SCENARIO
CITY ONLY90’ Baseball
Diamonds
2 13,200 9,850 10,000 14,330 1 Short
YAC (2)
75’ Baseball
Diamonds
1A 26,400 19,700 15,000B 28,659 1 Short OKAC (1)
60’ Softball/
Youth Baseball
11C 2,400 1,791 2,000 2,605 3-4 Short
DAAC (4), YAC (4),
OKAC (1), LJW (2)
Full Sized
Rectangle Fields
3 8,800 6,567 4,000
D 9,553 4-5 Short OKAC (2), YAC (1)CITY + SCHOOLS90’ Baseball
Diamonds
4 6,600 4,925 5,000 7,165 2 Short
YAC (2), Hales, Salk
75’ Baseball
Diamonds
1A 26,400 19,700 10,000B 28,659 2 Short OKAC (1)
60’ Softball/
Youth Baseball
14C 1,886 1,407 1,500 2,047 5-6 Short
DAAC (4), YAC (4),
OKAC (1), LJW (2),
VMS (3)
Full Sized
Rectangle Fields
9E 2,933 2,189 2,000 3,184 5-6 Short OKAC (2), YAC (1),
ERHS (1), VMS (2),
SMS(2), TLES (1)
A - DAAC (4) and YAC (4) can both accommodate 75’ basepaths, but are primarily used for 60’. None have grass infi elds.
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.
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.
D - This ratio varies from the 2005 ratio due to the rise of lacrosse, soccer, and fl ag football since that time.
E - 5 Rectangle fi elds are currently programmed for competition. An additional 4 fi elds are typically practice fi elds, but could accommodate soccer/
lacrosse games at full size. They do not have goalposts for football.
Sources: Elk River, HKGi, NRPA
13 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
PEER COMMUNITIES
Working from a review of fi elds in neighboring communities, this
study compares the number of fi elds on a per capita basis. Because
communities have diff erent approaches regarding what is provided
by the city vs. the school district, the study looks at both measures.
Although school district lines do not always mirror city limits, the
cities are the ones that are measured for population purposes.
FINDINGS
Elk River as a city is slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to full
sized baseball fi elds. This is also the most volatile metric, as 5 of the 12
cities do not provide full sized fi elds. The city is about average when
including school fi elds.
Elk River is in the middle of the pack compared with neighboring
communities in the provision of softball & and youth baseball
fi elds, as well as rectangle fi elds. The community falls behind when
considering city and school fi elds combined.
Similar to fi eld ratio analysis, peer comparisons are not perfect
(for example: some cities have stronger programs in specifi c sports
and need the extra fi elds), but they do help paint a picture of how
the community stacks up relative to their neighbors.
These ratios are also a snapshot in time. As neighboring communities
grow, they are continuing to add facilities.
Elk
River
Becker
Monticello
Big
Lake
Otsego
Albertville
St. Michael Rogers
Saint Francis
Ramsey Andover
Coon
Rapids
Anoka
Zimmerman
14 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT ELK RIVERROGERS-OTSEGOANDOVERST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLECOON RAPIDSANOKA-RAMSEYMONTICELLOZIMMERMANST. FRANCISBIG LAKEBECKERPopulation (2021)26,35935,06833,42826,75464,51947,79314,1066,5388,26411,1785,065CITY (OR CITIES) ONLYFull Size Baseball
(Primarily 90’ basepaths, typically grass infi elds, permanent mound at 60’6”
outfi eld fences or temporary system)
*Andover and Ramsey have primary 75’ grass infi eld facilities included
202*229*01001
Population Per Field 13,180 16,714 13,377 32,260 5,310 6,538 5,065 Fewer FieldsMore FieldsSoftball and Youth Baseball
Works for 60’ basepaths - skinned infi elds (SB/BB) or grass infi elds (BB), may
have adult softball fences (275-315’) or fastpitch softball fences (200’)
129205171073213
Population Per Field 2,197 3,896 1,671 5,351 3,795 4,779 2,015 2,179 4,132 11,178 1,688 Fewer FieldsMore FieldsRectangle Fields
(Football/Lacrosse/Soccer)3712221010102
Population Per Field 8,786 5,010 2,786 13,377 32,260 4,779 14,106 8,264 2,533 Fewer FieldsMore FieldsCITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICTFull Size Baseball
(Primarily 90’ basepaths, typically grass infi elds, permanent mound at 60’6”
outfi eld fences or temporary system)
*Andover and Ramsey have primary 75’ grass infi eld facilities included
445*4311*23423
Population Per Field 6,590 8,767 6,686 6,689 21,506 4,345 7,053 2,179 2,066 5,589 1,688 Fewer FieldsMore FieldsSoftball and Youth Baseball
Works for 60’ basepaths - skinned infi elds (SB/BB) or grass infi elds (BB), may
have adult softball fences (275-315’) or fastpitch softball fences (200’)
151320131911116688
Population Per Field 1,757 2,698 1,671 2,058 3,396 4,345 1,282 1,090 1,377 1,397 633 Fewer FieldsMore FieldsRectangle Fields
(Football/Lacrosse/Soccer)922222081773895
Population Per Field 2,929 1,594 1,519 1,338 8,065 2,811 2,015 2,179 1,033 1,242 1,013 Fewer FieldsMore Fields1 / 5,0651 / 16,7141 / 9,8590Elk River: 1 / 13,180 (#4 of 11)1 / 1,6711 / 2,0971 / 11,1781 / 4,4551 / 3,795Elk River: 1 / 2,197 (#5 of 11)1 / 2,5331 / 4,89401 / 23,1821 / 8,786Elk River: 1 / 8,786 (#6 of 11)1 / 1,6881 / 3,2621 / 21,5061 / 6,8711 / 6,590Elk River: 1 / 6,590 (#6 of 11)1 / 6331 / 1,3301 / 4,3451 / 2,3781 / 1,671Elk River: 1 / 1,757 (#7 of 11)1 / 1,0131 / 1,2901 / 8,0651 / 2,4951 / 1,594Elk River: 1 / 2,929 (#10 of 11)
How to Read The Box & Whisker Diagrams
The chart used illustrates the data separated into quartiles, with “0” at the location of “fewer fi elds”
The farthest right bar illustrates the minimum value of the communities considered.
The right side of the box illustrates the 25th percentile - 25% have fewer, 75% have more
The long bar illustrates the 50th percentile - half have fewer, half have more
The left side of the box illustrates the 75th percentile - 75% have fewer, 25% have more
The farthest left bar illustrates the maximum value of the communities considered.
The red circle illustrates where Elk River sits on the continuum
15 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April
Week 1
April
Week 2
April
Week 3
April
Week 4
May
Week 1
May
Week 2
May
Week 3
May
Week 4
May
Week 5
June
Week 1
June
Week 2
June
Week 3
June
Week 4
July
Week 1
July
Week 2
July
Week 3
July
Week 4
July
Week 5
Full Sized Baseball - Weekends
Used by Others Used by Youth Baseball Not used
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April
Week 1
April
Week 2
April
Week 3
April
Week 4
May
Week 1
May
Week 2
May
Week 3
May
Week 4
May
Week 5
June
Week 1
June
Week 2
June
Week 3
June
Week 4
July
Week 1
July
Week 2
July
Week 3
July
Week 4
July
Week 5
Full Sized Baseball - Weekdays
Used By Others Used By Youth Baseball Not Used
FULL SIZED AND 75’ BASEBALL FIELDS
The current baseball fi elds are well utilized, with little to no weekday capacity until July. In part this is due to heavy school use of city
facilities. One issue with this level of programming is that when late winters and rainouts occur and cause delays, it becomes very
tough to make up postponed games.
The two lighted 90’ fi elds at YAC are better than many surrounding communities, especially when compared to other “non-varsity”
fi elds.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Develop 2 dedicated 75’ baseball fi elds with grass infi eld and appropriate outfi eld dimensions. This could be an upgrade to the
large ballfi eld at Oak Knoll (with the addition of lights) or be located as part of a future YAC expansion.
• Develop an additional 1-2 full sized (90’ basepath) fi elds in the community.
• Continue to maintain YAC 5 & 6 as high quality 90’ basepath fi elds.
• If additional demand exists beyond current use for weekday fi elds, particularly in May and June, consider doubling use by having
an early session and later session. This is more feasible as school users typically do not go very late unless there are games.
• Continue to maintain additional fi elds that can fl ex in order to accommodate weather and tournament based peaks in demand.
• Within the community, there is confusion about the status of Hales Field. It is school district property and operated by the
district. Its location adjacent to Oak Knoll Athletic Complex leads some to think that the fi eld is part of the city’s park system. It is
also clear that the fi eld is in need of updating and addressing deferred maintenance. This has been the case for some time.
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
16 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April
Week 1
April
Week 2
April
Week 3
April
Week 4
May
Week 1
May
Week 2
May
Week 3
May
Week 4
May
Week 5
June
Week 1
June
Week 2
June
Week 3
June
Week 4
July
Week 1
July
Week 2
July
Week 3
July
Week 4
July
Week 5
Small Sized Baseball/Softball - Weekdays
Used by Others Used by Youth Baseball Used by Youth Softball Not Used
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April
Week 1
April
Week 2
April
Week 3
April
Week 4
May
Week 1
May
Week 2
May
Week 3
May
Week 4
May
Week 5
June
Week 1
June
Week 2
June
Week 3
June
Week 4
July
Week 1
July
Week 2
July
Week 3
July
Week 4
July
Week 5
Small Sized Baseball/Softball - Weekends
Used by Others Used by Youth Baseball Used by Youth Softball Not Used
SMALL SIZED BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS
Softball and youth baseball are both strong programs in the city of Elk River, and are using much of the available fi eld space in the
community. This extends from late April through July. While a small amount of capacity is shown for the weekdays, having a small
amount of buff er is helpful for rescheduling games.
There have been some questions from the community about whether the fi elds that are reserved are really being utilized, or if the
pricing structure simply incentivizes associations to reserve as much fi eld space as they can, even if they are not going to use it. While
it probably does occur, this does not appear to be the main driver limiting supply.
It is worth noting that the city does not have many fi elds with smaller fence dimensions. Only one at OKAC and the two softball
fi elds (which are prioritized to the schools) are at the smaller dimensions. Temporary fencing is available at most fi elds and used in
some instances. This is a good intermediate step, but dedicated small fi elds are preferable from a user experience perspective.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• When the Lion John Weicht fi elds are being used for practice by the schools, schedule a second set of practices for youth softball.
• Develop at least 2 dedicated 60’ baseball fi elds with grass infi elds. This could be an upgrade to the small ballfi eld at Oak Knoll
(with the addition of lights) or be located as part of a future YAC expansion. These fi elds should have 200’-225’ fences.
• Continue to maintain YAC 1-4 as high quality small baseball/softball fi elds. If OKAC changes to a dedicated baseball facility,
increase availability for softball at YAC.
• Consider the development of an additional 3-4 small fi elds with 200-225’ fences in the long run (by 2035) to accommodate
growing and future demand.
• Improve facilities at DAAC to modernize the facility and improve user experience
-Permanent restrooms and upgrades to shelters/buildings
-Netting at spectator areas
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
1 7 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April May June July Aug Sept Oct
Rectangle Fields - Weekdays
Used by Others Used by Youth Lacrosse Used by Boreal Used by Tackle Football Used by Flag Football Not Used
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
April May June July Aug Sept Oct
Rectangle Fields - Weekends
Used by Others Used by Youth Lacrosse Used by Boreal Used by Tackle Football Used by Flag Football Not Used
RECTANGLE FIELDS
The rectangle fi elds (football, lacrosse, soccer) are slightly underutilized in Elk River during the spring and summer. While the graphs
above show limited use, that is somewhat helpful for resting fi elds. It is also worth noting that unlike diamonds, which see heavy
pressure for only one season, the rectangle fi elds are used consistently from fi rst thaw to late fall. The additional use is detrimental
to the conditions of the fi elds, particularly at OKAC as lacrosse and football are harder on larger areas of the fi elds (soccer causes
localized “hot spots” but does not impact the entire fi eld like lacrosse and football). Growth in fi eld demand is expected. Lacrosse
participation is recovering strongly. Boreal Soccer is a regional club and as such, uses fi elds around the north metro. The club was
started in 2020 and based on trends, it is likely to expand signifi cantly over the upcoming years. To some extent it has probably
limited its requests for fi elds as the city navigated the recent construction process. As they grow, soccer will likely bring additional
demand beyond the limited current use.
The data shown is also for spring/summer and one of the larger users is a fall user in youth football, both with tackle and fl ag
football. While tackle football participation has dropped below the levels from 2015-2018, the numbers appear to have stabilized
somewhat. At the same time, fl ag football has expanded rapidly. Lacrosse and football are both heavy users of the school fi elds as
well, particularly for practices.
One of the primary issues with the city’s current fi eld situation is that there are very few rectangle fi elds if something happens to
one of them. If there is an issue with one of them, the city’s capacity becomes much smaller. National trends suggest more rapid
growth in demand for rectangle fi elds than diamonds, and the city is also lagging behind many of its neighbors when it comes to
the provision of rectangle fi elds.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Consider the development of 4 fi elds over the long term (by 2035) to accommodate growing and future demand.
• Continue to limit access after weather events or long winters. With only 3 fi elds in the city’s system, having one go off line due to
being torn up would cause signifi cant issues.
• Explore bringing amenities to the fi eld at YAC similar to what has been constructed at the ballfi elds. If the expansion occurs, it
may be better to focus investments on support facilities in that area.
• While Kleiver is a reasonable overfl ow location for occasional needs, the parking and support facilities suggest the city should not
rely on it for regular programming.
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
Preferred 25% fi eld rest and recovery
This late summer
pause between
seasons is the most
challenging period
to re-establish turf
1 8 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
SOFTBALL
12400
12600
12800
13000
13200
13400
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
MN GIRLS SOFTBALL
PARTICIPATION
Girls Participation Linear (Girls Participation)
357500
359500
361500
363500
365500
367500
369500
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
NATIONAL GIRLS SOFTBALL
PARTICIPATION
Total Linear (Total)
STATE AND NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL PARTICIPATION RATES
ELK RIVER YOUTH ASSOCIATION
PARTICIPATION RATES
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Softball Participation
Reported Projected (by Assn)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Softball Teams
Reported Projected (by Assn)
FINDINGS
Youth Softball is a steady to growing sport in Elk River. The association
anticipates strong growth. For the purposes of this study, the expectations are
tempered somewhat to a moderated growth, based on the association getting
its footing after separating from ROSA and continued demographic growth.
Adult softball has declined in popularity from a high in the late 1980s and early
1990s. This slide has continued as players age and there are more demands on
players’ time. It is unlikely that the trend will reverse. The long term viability of
continuing adult softball is in question.
In Elk River, there is the perception among softball players and families that
the program does not get access to some of the same fi elds as baseball. The
creation of two ballfi elds at Lion John Weicht park has created a destination
with outstanding facilities. The school district does retain priority scheduling
on these fi elds for the high school teams.
DAAC is a solid facility, but at this point is showing its age. There are not
permanent restrooms at DAAC and the lighting and shelters are nearing the
point of needing to be replaced. Softball would like to see improvements
similar to those at YAC.
It is also worth noting that the two fi elds that are sized for fastpitch have
school district priority. Other smaller fi elds would be welcome for the
association.
19 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
BASEBALL
OVERALL
Baseball participation in Elk River has been declining slightly. The association is
optimistic about their opportunities to begin growing again. For the purposes
of this study, maintaining of existing numbers is assumed. There are also other
teams such as the VFW and Legion teams in Elk River.
The desire for fall ball is also growing and this would require additional fi eld
time during historically unprogrammed seasons. Additional use would
challenge the quality of the fi elds by putting them to use when they are
typically resting.
SMALL FIELDS
The city of Elk River does have a number of fl ex fi elds that can accommodate
younger baseball players on 60’ fi elds, the city does not have fi elds designed
for younger players. There are no grass infi eld ballfi elds, and most of the
skinned infi eld fi elds are at 285-315 foot outfi elds. The perception among
baseball users is that there are not enough fi elds, but this may be in part due
to recent construction projects and maintenance issues taking fi elds offl ine in
the past few years.
MIDDLE FIELDS
Providing dedicated baseball fi elds with grass infi elds for the 12-13 year old
teams is a challenge for Elk River, but also many other communities. This is a
challenging age because the 52’ mound/75’ basepaths are only used for this
specifi c age group. While a number of the skinned fi elds can accommodate
this, the baseball use always feels secondary, especially when the fence
dimensions are longer than desired.
FULL SIZED FIELDS
The city is home to more full sized baseball fi elds than many neighboring
communities, but the main critique tends to be with Hales Field. Hales Field
is the home fi eld of the high school, VFW, and Legion teams and is in need
of upgrades. Hale’s is not owned or operated by the city, but the proximity to
OKAC leads some to believe it is a city fi eld. Newer lights and dugouts at the
90’ fi elds at YAC have been a welcome addition.
13200
13300
13400
13500
13600
13700
13800
13900
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
MN BOYS BASEBALL
PARTICIPATION
Boys Participation Linear (Boys Participation)
475000
477000
479000
481000
483000
485000
487000
489000
491000
493000
495000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
NATIONAL BOYS BASEBALL
PARTICIPATION
Total Linear (Total)
STATE AND NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL PARTICIPATION RATES
ELK RIVER YOUTH ASSOCIATION
PARTICIPATION RATES
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Baseball Participants
Reported Projected (by Assn)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Baseball Teams
Reported Projected (by Assn)
20 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
FOOTBALL
FINDINGS
Tackle football has seen a reduction in the number of kids playing the game,
in large part due to information that emerged in the mid to late 2010s about
head injuries. What is unclear at this point is whether the trend will continue
to move downward, or if participation rates have now been set at a lower,
new normal. For the time being, it appears that numbers have stabilized in
Elk River. Eff orts have been made to make the game safer in the rules and
offi ciating, with the introduction of improving helmet technology, and the
invention of new forms of the game such as tacklebar. There has also been
rapid growth in the number of kids playing fl ag football.
That being said, tackle football remains the most popular high school sport
far outpacing soccer, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse for boys sports. At the
youth level there are still 3 participants for every 2 lacrosse players.
While participation rates for tackle football are down nationally, increases in
fl ag football will somewhat off set the drop in tackle. Elk River has historically
been strong in football and the ability of high school program to remain
strong will to some degree depend on the popularity of the sport at a youth
level.
As discussed above, fl ag football has been expanding, much more than
outpacing the rate at which tackle football has lost participants. The
association has been active since 2019 and that rapid growth has occurred,
even in spite of the pandemic. In 2022, the association had already reached
320 players which is the maximum number of players the association can
have. This is based on a 32 team cap with 10 players per team.
Unlike many other sports, football has not shifted as much into the “year
round” model. Some off season training and camps occur, but football remains
a primarily fall sport.
22800
23000
23200
23400
23600
23800
24000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
MN BOYS FOOTBALL
PARTICIPATION
Boys Participation Linear (Boys Participation)
900000
950000
1000000
1050000
1100000
1150000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
NATIONAL BOYS FOOTBALL
PARTICIPATION
Total Linear (Total)
STATE AND NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL PARTICIPATION RATES
ELK RIVER YOUTH ASSOCIATION
PARTICIPATION RATES
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Tackle Football Participation
Reported Projected (by Assn)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Flag Football Participation
Capped ParƟ cipaƟ on
No 2020
Season
(COVID)
No 2020
Season
(COVID)(COVID)
2 1 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
LACROSSE
FINDINGS
Lacrosse is no longer an upstart “new” sport, but is now an established activity.
With Elk River’s reputation as a hockey town, it is not surprising that lacrosse
has been popular here for some time, as the game and players often overlap.
Although hit hard by COVID, participation numbers appear to be returning to
pre-pandemic levels. The sport has not been a fast growing sport, but has had
relatively stable participation numbers for the few years before 2020.
In Minnesota, lacrosse can be a challenging sport to provide fi elds for
because of the spring season. When fi elds are in their freeze/thaw cycles
they are the most susceptible to damage. Lacrosse is a fast paced game with
lots of running and cutting that can tear up wet or thawing fi elds. When
fi eld conditions are deteriorated early in the season, it is very diffi cult to re-
establish turf and get them back to a playable standard at any point that year.
Lacrosse uses the rectangle fi elds at YAC and Oak Knoll, the fi elds at the High
School/Middle School complex, and the indoor turf space in the fi eldhouse.
ELK RIVER YOUTH ASSOCIATION
PARTICIPATION RATES
0
50
100
150
200
250
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Lacrosse Participation
COVID Impacts
2800
3000
3200
3400
3600
3800
4000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
MN BOYS LACROSSE
PARTICIPATION
Boys Participation Linear (Boys Participation)
102000
104000
106000
108000
110000
112000
114000
116000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
NATIONAL BOYS LACROSSE
PARTICIPATION
Total Linear (Total)
3200
3400
3600
3800
4000
4200
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
MN GIRLS LACROSSE
PARTICIPATION
Girls Participation Linear (Girls Participation)
70000
75000
80000
85000
90000
95000
100000
105000
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears
NATIONAL GIRLS LACROSSE
PARTICIPATION
Total Linear (Total)
STATE AND NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL PARTICIPATION RATES
22 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY
City of Elk River, Minnesota DRAFT
IMPLEMENTATION
PRIORITIZATION
When developing prioritization, actions can be evaluated by how
they improve the city’s system of athletic fi elds:
Does the action have positive safety implications?
The highest priority for the city should be actions that improve
safety outcomes. This includes things like netting, fi eld
maintenance, and provision of AEDs at fi elds.
Does the action improve capacity and address current or projected needs?
Actions such as the addition of lights and building new fi elds add
capacity to the system. The more recent addition of lights at YAC
have improved the capacity at those fi elds. An expansion at YAC
would have similar impacts.
Does the action strengthen the city’s operations and capacity for funding?
Actions that create improvements for maintenance and operations
should be prioritized. The city has opted to consolidate fi elds
in designated athletic facilities, rather than dispersed around the community. The focus remains on
providing fi elds in larger, consolidated locations where maintenance can be streamlined and more
effi cient. Other actions may strengthen the city’s abilities to recruit and host tournaments (and increase
fi eld rentals) or better position the city to pursue other funding such as grants.
Does the action improve equitable distribution of resources between sports?
The city has done a great job of improving facilities for many of the youth athletic associations. If there are
sports that have not seen upgrades in some time, the priority should go to these sports over those that
have seen recent improvements and investments.
Does the action improve user experiences?
Elk River’s facilities provide varied user experiences. Upgrades at the YAC ballfi elds have been well
received, while a lack of toilets on the rectangle fi eld side or at DAAC remain a point of contention.
Elements such as appropriately sized fi elds, batting cages, shaded viewing areas, concessions, storage,
and parking go a long way to improving user experience.
TIMING
The study provides recommendations for the city of Elk River based on the identifi ed needs and desires
of the city and athletic associations. Some of these recommendations are easier to implement, others will
take some time to identify funding, design, and bring to fruition. Lastly, some of the recommendations
focus on strategy and programming and represent ongoing eff orts that are already underway.
23 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATIONDRAFT
QUESTIONS
ADDRESSED
SPORTS TIMING
FACILITIES
Install Netting at DAAC Wheel and consider backstop upgrades Safety Softball/
Baseball
0-3 Years
Install covered dugouts at DAAC Safety, Equitable Distribution,
User Experience
Softball/
Baseball
0-3 Years
Develop Support Facilities at DAAC
(Shelters, restrooms, concessions, signage, parking/parking agreement)
Equitable Distribution, User
Experience
Softball/
Baseball
4-6 Years
Update Lighting and Irrigation at DAAC Capacity, Operations &
Funding
Softball/
Baseball
4-6 Years
Install netting at playground at YAC Safety, User Experience Softball/
Baseball
0-3 Years
Install Bleacher Protector system at YAC Safety, User Experience Softball/
Baseball
0-3 Years
Improve Facilities at YAC’s rectangle fi eld
(Restrooms, paved parking, concessions, storage)
*May be deferred to longer term expansion at YAC
Equitable Distribution, User
Experience
Football/
Lacrosse/
Soccer
4-6 years
Continue to make improvements at YAC regarding support facilities
(Pave parking, spectator seating at 5&6)
User Experience Softball/
Baseball
4-6 years
Develop 2 75’ grass infi eld baseball fi elds, potentially at YAC or: Capacity, User Experience Baseball 7-13 Years
Convert OKAC 1 to a dedicated 75’ fi eld with grass infi eld Capacity, User Experience Baseball 0-3 Years
Develop 2 60’ grass infi eld baseball fi elds, potentially at YAC or: Capacity, User Experience Baseball 7-13 Years
Convert OKAC 2 to a dedicated 60’ fi eld with grass infi eld Capacity, User Experience Baseball 0-3 Years
Improve support facilities at OKAC
(Storage, restrooms, concessions, signage)
User Experience, Equitable
Distribution
All 4-6 Years
Construction of 3-4 60’ basepath / 200-225’ fence ballfi elds and support
facilities
Capacity, Equitable
Distribution
Softball/
Baseball
7-13 Years
Construction of 1-2 90’ baseball fi elds Capacity, Equitable
Distribution
Baseball 7-13 Years
Construction of 4 rectangle fi elds and support facilities Capacity, Equitable
Distribution
Football/
Lacrosse/
Soccer
7-13 Years
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Continue to protect fi elds after weather event or long winters Safety, Capacity, Operations &
Funding
All Ongoing
Maintain fl ex fi elds that can accommodate multiple sizes and user groups Capacity Softball/
Baseball
Ongoing
Plan for replacement/upgrades to irrigation system at OKAC Safety, Operations & Funding All Ongoing
STRATEGY AND PROGRAMMING
Explore opportunities to have two time slots for programming fi elds,
especially in combination with school users
Capacity All Ongoing
Continue to actively pursue tournaments Operations & Funding, User
Experience
All Ongoing
Continue to evaluate the long term viability of Adult Softball Operations & Funding Softball Ongoing
Explore additional partnerships with the school district to fund
improvements
Capacity, Operations &
Funding
All Ongoing
Continue coordination with the school district to better share scheduling/
programming needs and fi nd additional capacity
Capacity, Operations &
Funding
All Ongoing
Continue to develop partnerships with outside events, clubs, camps, and
trainers to bring in additional funding
Capacity, Operations &
Funding
All Ongoing
ELK RIVER
ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY