The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About012 - Appendix L- Parking Memo_MSP 1105 REEVES RD. WEST, SUITE 6 BOZEMAN, MT 59718 406-581-5730 www.headwatersmt.net Page 1 of 4 May 8, 2026 City of Bozeman Planning Department 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT 59715 Email: planningtech@bozeman.net Re: Parking Calculations for Baseball Fields Diamond 8 Baseball Complex Dear Planning Staff, Project Description The Diamond 8 Baseball Complex site is a roughly 50-acre outdoor baseball complex consisting of eight baseball fields (two high school-sized fields and six youth-sized fields) along with ancillary support facilities including concessions, restrooms, batting cages, and maintenance structures. The complex is anticipated to operate primarily during the spring and summer baseball seasons, with the highest parking demand occurring during weekend tournament events when multiple fields are active simultaneously. Because this land use is not specifically addressed within the City of Bozeman Unified Development Code (UDC) Section 38.540 parking standards, parking demand was evaluated using a combination of national industry references and functional characteristics typical of multi-field athletic complexes. Parking Demand Methodology Parking demand was evaluated using the following sources: • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Parking Generation Manual, 5th Edition • National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) guidance • Functional demand estimates based on the operational characteristics of the proposed complex These resources consistently indicate that parking demand for multi-field athletic complexes is event- based and best evaluated based on peak tournament conditions when multiple fields are active concurrently. ITE Parking Generation The ITE manual does not provide a specific parking study for baseball complexes; however, it includes data for Soccer Complex (ITE Land Use 488), which is a reasonably comparable recreational land use. • Average parking rate: • 62.29 parking stalls per field • Applying this rate to eight fields results in: • 62.29 × 8 fields = 498 parking stalls Page 2 of 4 This estimate is conservative because soccer fields typically involve larger team rosters (11 players per team) than baseball (9 players per team). NRPA Guidance NRPA guidance suggests: • 25–30 vehicles per youth field • 40–50 vehicles per regulation field Using the upper range of these values: 8 fields × 50 stalls per field = 400 parking stalls This estimate aligns with observed parking demand at similar regional baseball and softball complexes. Functional Characteristics Estimate Parking demand was also estimated based on expected participants and spectators during peak tournament conditions. The worst case assumes all eight fields operating simultaneously. Youth Fields • 6 youth fields 15 players per team × 2 teams = 30 players 2 umpires • Assuming each participant travels separately: • 32 vehicles × 6 fields = 192 vehicles High School Fields • 2 high school fields 18 players per team × 2 teams = 36 players 3 umpires • Assume 200 spectators per game with an average of 2.5 spectators per vehicle: • 80 fan vehicles per field • Total: • 39 participant vehicles × 2 fields + 80 fan vehicles × 2 fields = 238 vehicles Total Estimated Parking Demand • 192 + 238 = 430 vehicles Peak Parking Adjustment Peak parking conditions account for: • full field utilization • approximately 10% arrival/departure overlap between games • approximately 5% circulation inefficiency typical of large parking areas Applying these adjustments results in an estimated peak parking demand range of approximately 430–495 vehicles. Page 3 of 4 Parking Supply Strategy While the analysis above indicates that peak tournament conditions could generate parking demand approaching approximately 430–495 vehicles, coordination meetings with the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department identified a preference to avoid over-parking the site. Specifically, Parks staff indicated that reducing the amount of permanent paved parking would: • minimize impervious surface impacts near adjacent wetlands • reduce motor vehicle conflicts along nearby active transportation routes • better align the facility with the surrounding park and trail system Consistent with this direction, the revised conceptual site plan removes the previously proposed western parking lot (approximately 113 spaces) and instead relies on a distributed parking strategy that includes: • on-site paved parking areas • on-street parking along Harvest Parkway • on-street parking along Laurel Parkway This approach accommodates peak demand during occasional tournaments while limiting permanent paved surfaces across the site. The parking strategy is intended to adequately serve typical daily practices and games, while accommodating occasional peak tournament demand through a combination of on-site parking and adjacent on-street parking. Consistency with Parks and Active Transportation Planning This distributed parking approach is consistent with the policy direction contained in the Bozeman Parks Recreation and Active Transportation Plan, which emphasizes improving connections between parks, neighborhoods, and trail systems while minimizing conflicts between motor vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists. The PRAT Plan recognizes that park facilities function as destinations within the City’s active transportation network and encourages site designs that support safe walking and bicycling access to recreational facilities. Consistency with City Transportation and Community Planning Policies The proposed parking strategy is also consistent with broader planning goals contained in the Bozeman Community Plan and the Bozeman Transportation Master Plan. These plans emphasize reducing dependence on single-occupancy vehicle travel and encourage development patterns that support multimodal transportation access. Providing moderate on-site parking supplemented by adjacent on- street parking reflects these policy goals by avoiding excessive land consumption for parking while still ensuring that peak event demand can be accommodated. Bike parking is proposed for the site and we are continuing discussions with Streamline regarding a bus stop in the vicinity of the field. As mentioned by the Parks Department – the Bozeman Sports Park is proposing additional parking at the intersection of Harvest Parkway and Cottonwood Road that may also serve as overflow parking for this facility. Page 4 of 4 Conclusion Parking demand analysis indicates that peak tournament events could generate parking demand in the range of 430–495 vehicles. However, consistent with the direction provided by the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department and the policy guidance contained in the City’s adopted planning documents, the proposed site design intentionally limits the amount of permanent paved parking on the site. Instead, a distributed parking approach will be utilized that includes on-site parking areas and on-street parking along Harvest Parkway and Laurel Parkway. This strategy accommodates peak parking demand while minimizing impervious surfaces, protecting nearby wetlands, and supporting the City’s goals related to multimodal transportation access and park connectivity. The proposed site includes roughly 374 off-street parking spaces and roughly 66 on-street parking spaces on the west side of Laurel Parkway and north side of Harvest Parkway. Please contact us with any questions regarding this analysis. Sincerely, Garrett Schultz, P.E. Headwaters Engineering, Inc. www.headwatersmt.net H:\2128\002\DOCS\SITEPLAN\MASTER SITE PLAN\Parking Memo_MSP_GS revised-jm.docx