Brooklyn Park, New Hope awarded Hennepin Youth Sports Program grants
Brooklyn Park and New Hope were among a total of 18 projects to get a piece of the $2.47 million pie awarded through the Hennepin Youth Sports Program capital grants.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners awarded the project grants at their meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15, after reviewing recommendations from the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.
Brooklyn Park, in conjunction with the Osseo School District, received a total of $435,000.
Edinbrook School Athletic Field at 8900 Zane Ave. N. received $225,000 to convert existing balls fields to soccer fields, which would be irrigated and fenced on the west side. Construction is slated for completion in August 2010 and open in June 2011.
The Osseo School District Director of Facilities and Transportation Operations Dale Carlstrom said the district was "pleased" to partner with Brooklyn Park to give area youth more recreational opportunities.
"In recent years, community demand for soccer fields has increased significantly and we know these fields will be well used," he said.
Zanewood School Park at 7100 Zane Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park also received $210,000 to convert three existing ball fields to irrigated soccer fields. Construction is set for completion in August 2010 and to open June 2011.
"In today's economy it is important that schools and cities work together to improve public facilities. Ensuring access for recreational pursuits is a shared goal, Brooklyn Park Director of Recreation and Parks Jon Oyanagi said. "It is exciting to know our residents will be able to enjoy these new soccer fields for many years to come."
New Hope received $48,945 for a football and softball field at the New Hope Athletic Field at 8810 49th Ave. N. The award will improve grading and drainage and replace the irrigation system for the lighted field.
"We are real excited to receive the grant," New Hope Director Park and Recreation Shari French said. "It is a project we have been hoping to do for a long time."
The New Hope improvement project is expected to begin August 2010 with the field ready to use the spring of 2011. Armstrong Cooper Youth Football Association and Cooper High School, both of who use the fields regularly, provided support to the city during the application process, French said.
A total of 38 projects applied for Hennepin Youth Sports Program funding to build, repair, renovate or expand current facilities. Based on evaluation criteria, 18 projects were awarded $2.47 million in grants from the county. Criteria determining the awards included: demonstrated ability to perform on the one year timeline, match ratio, sustainability, environmental improvements, need for the facility, population and number of people served and partnerships.
New projects receiving funding was St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools for lighting for two fields and spectator seating for St. Anthony Village Central Park, Rogers for locker rooms for the Rogers Activity Center, Minnetonka Public Schools for "Green, Fit and Fun" Recreational Facility and Corcoran for two tee-ball fields at the Corcoran Community Park tee-ball field.
Other large dollar renovation projects that received funding included $240,000 to Richfield for four ball fields at the Lincoln Athletic Complex, $235,488 to Bloomington for tournament baseball field improvements to Red Haddox Baseball Field and $225,000 to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for a multipurpose field at Stewart Park Soccer Field.
Funding for the grants comes from the Twins ballpark sales tax. Part of those revenues also made possible the expansion of library hours - "Ballpark Sundays" - which have enabled an additional 13 county libraries to be open on Sundays year-round.