CC PACKET 10262010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose The purpose of this grant request is to increase access and use to the Stadium Athletic Field through an environmentally -sound lighting improvement to St. Anthony Village's Central Park, to improve the primary softball diamond facilities to encourage young women to continue their involvement in athletics, and to reconfigure an existing tee -ball field to expand soccer facilities and enable simultaneous use for soccer and tee -ball. Central Park is located at 3300 33rd Ave NE, St. Anthony, MN; Wilshire Park Elementary is located at 3600 Highcrest Road NE, St. Anthony, MN. Request This request is a three-part request, containing improvements to existing facilities, which are designed to expand youth athletic opportunities: 1. Stadium Athletic Complex Improvements: $178,50 . Currently Central Park contains athletic fields shared by community and school use which accommodates youth football, soccer, baseball and softball in addition to other recreational activities. The Stadium Athletic Field hosts youth level through high school varsity level soccer and football practices and games from spring through fall. This complex is currently surrounded by inadequate and unsafe fencing while being lighted using a 1970's system utilizing six poles and expending significant cost, both economically and environmentally, as the light spillage into neighboring residential properties requires that the field usage must be kept to a minimum after sunset. Fortunately, with advances in lighting technology, the stadium complex can be lighted with minimal light spill into neighboring areas at a substantially reduced economic cost—while providing better visibility on the playing field. New fencing will replace an unsightly and hazardous fencing in place and protect fans, participants and increase security. 2. Softball Improvements: $66,000, The main softball diamond in Central Park hosts youth softball and baseball contests and practices, and is the main home of the High School Varsity softball program. There is no adult or organized recreational softball played on the fields. The softball diamond lacks a fenceline commensurate with the adjacent baseball facility, which is a concern for safety purposes and for gender equality. Further, the field is frequently limited for play after rainfall, as the soil conditions in Central Park lack the ability to drain stormwater efficiently. As a result, a number of practices and games are cancelled annually because of unsafe or unplayable conditions of the fields due to water. Adding draintile to Central Park's two south playing fields will lessen the number of games and practices lost because of unplayable fields, and which will therefore reduce congestion on those fields in the peak season of August and September. The addition of drain the on these athletic fields will result in 22