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Parks Commission Meeting Minutes February 14, 2000 Page 3 I Minnesota ranks 10th in the number of soccer players per capita. Soccer also attracts a diverse 2 participation; in other words, there is nearly equal number of boys and girls participating in the 3 sport. Mr. Severson offered that in 1999, St. Anthony had 710 participants for soccer, and 55 4 teams. Currently, Mr. Severson stated that the program utilizes three fields that are on school 5 property, and he was at the Commission's meeting to discuss obtaining fields on City property. 6 Zurbey responded to Mr. Severson's earlier comment about potential funding for new fields and 7 requested details. Mr. Severson stated that all the details have not been provided at this point, 8 but he would do some research in order to provide an answer. 9 Koehntop asked what size of fields are needed. Mr. Severson responded that ages 5-18 years are 10 playing on the fields. He suggested that if hockey rinks are installed at the parks, that the rinks 1 t could be left standing over the summer and the inside of the rinks could be used for the youngest 12 age group for soccer. 13 Jindra offered that she believed that there is a larger field at Silver Point Park that had the poten- 14 tial for soccer use. Mr. Severson said that field would be adequate, but since there are so few 15 fields available for soccer, the existing fields get damaged from overuse. He mentioned that 16 when Wilshire Park Elementary School was reconstructed, that the soccer field was reduced to a 17 dirt surface. Due to the extreme shortage of fields, that field must be used even though there is not a grass surface. 19 Mr. Severson clarified that the soccer organization is not searching for additional parks, simply 20 green space for fields. 21 Jindra mentioned that the hockey boards at Emerald Park would most likely remain over the 22 summer. Public Works Director Jay Hartman stated that the retention of the hockey boards could 23 be coordinated so that the baseball program would not be negatively affected. 24 Jindra stated that soccer is clearly an active sport for the City, and that soccer use for the parks 25 must be a consideration. 26 Hartman clarified that currently every possible green space is being utilized for activities. 27 Community Services Representative Diana Roadfeldt inquired if the space behind the basketball 28 court area at Silver Point Park was to be used for soccer. Mr. Severson stated that if the space 29 was utilized for soccer in spring and summer, it would conflict with baseball activities. 30 However, he stated that in the fall those fields could be utilized for soccer. 31 Jindra offered that the neighboring communities have been cooperative in the past about working 32 with the City and sharing fields. She suggested this might be a good time to begin establishing 3 relationships with other communities in that respect.