HomeMy WebLinkAboutTOP_application_final Correct Budget Feb. 13 2014 Bozeman Sports Park
Application for the Bozeman Trails, Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee
January 31, 2014
Please give a brief description of your Project that includes location,
budget, amount requested and amount contributed from other sources.
The Bozeman Sports Park is a multi-phase project (Appendix A) designed to meet the current and future needs of the
Bozeman field sport community, specifically youth soccer and lacrosse, while providing a neighborhood park, urban open space, and Safe-Route-To-School benefits for Bozeman’s northwestern
neighborhoods (Appendix B ).
Bozeman’s soccer and lacrosse community has undergone tremendous growth over the last 15 years since Adam Bronken Field was built to accommodate a community
of 300 players. Since its construction, these communities have grown tenfold, numbering in excess of 3,000 registered participants in Bozeman Blitzz FC, AYSO (American Youth Soccer
Organization), Bozeman Adult League Soccer, and Gallatin Valley Lacrosse League.
The demand for suitable practice, league, tournament fields, and indoor practice facilities far outstrips
the supply currently provided by the Bozeman Public School system, MSU, and the Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department. Access to these fields is tenuous with year to year arrangements
that are threatened by multiple demands, seasonal limitations, increased user fees, and in the case of MSU, a shrinking recreational land base.
As an economic driver, soccer and
lacrosse tournaments in Bozeman, at a scale that is relevant, are untenable given the lack of a sufficiently sized, centralized tournament venue. The Montana Youth Soccer Association
and the Montana High School Association have consistently denied Bozeman’s bids for tournaments citing insufficient infrastructure for large multi-day tournaments. Bozeman’s ability
to host spring and fall league games are limited by short seasons and fields that were not sighted or designed for the extended seasons these sports require. Bozeman’s inability to
host tournaments during the shoulder seasons results in an economic loss to our merchants and hoteliers. Undocumented reports from Great Falls indicate that hosting the Montana High
School AA Soccer Championship (a relatively small, 20 team tournament) generates $1,000,000 in revenue for that community. The games held at Siebel Soccer Complex each year are estimated
to have an economic impact on Great Falls in the amount of $3 million http://www.gfsoccer.org/siebel-park-facilities/.
To meet the current and growing demands of Bozeman’s youth and
adult field sport teams, while providing a significant economic driver for the community, the wholly volunteer, Bozeman Soccer Education Foundation in conjunction with the Gallatin Valley
Lacrosse League propose the acquisition, development, and co-management of an 80 acre sports park located between the corners of Baxter and Flanders Mill and Baxter and Cottonwood Road
(NW1/4&in the SW1/4of section 3 T2S, R5E)
Estimated Project Budget (Appendix C)
Property acquisition
$2,070,000
Project planning and development (fees)*
$240,000
Phase 1: Sport Field Project Construction*
$6,910,000
Phase 1: Required
Maintenance Equipment
$222,200
Phase 1: Total Project cost
$9,442,200
Phase 1: Contributed Match (cash, donated land value, services and products donated in lieu of
cash)
$500,000
Total Phase 1 Funding Required from Parks and Trails Bond
$8,942,200
Phase 2: Project construction
TBD
Phase2: Contributed Match
TBD
Phase
3: Project Construction
TBD
*Master planning process could impact projected cost
Briefly describe how the project creates or enhances one or more of the following;
Open
Space/Natural areas:
Currently the proposed tract is being utilized as irrigated agriculture providing open space benefits associated with the mixed agriculture/residential character
of Northwest Bozeman. As a sports park, this viewshed would only be limited by an indoor practice facility. As the area is converted from agriculture to residential, it is fair to assume
that the sports park will provide some level of open space and an unobstructed viewshed.
Parks/Trails:
The sports park would provide full access to open field non-organized recreation,
trails, playground, and recreation space for the entire Bozeman community. Safe-Route-To-School paths and trails will be integrated into project development providing walking and riding
trails connecting adjoining neighborhoods with Meadowlark Elementary School. A master planning process will be employed to determine what other attributes might be included in the park
plan.
Water Quality
The natural grass, sports turf, and parking facilities will be designed to minimize and eliminate non- source runoff and every effort will be made in the design
and construction of the fields and facilities to minimize both potable and irrigation water use. In addition, best-practice stormwater retention and treatment methods will be used in
non-permeable surface areas, such as parking lots.
Multi-Use Recreational Fields
As the primary purpose of the Bozeman Sports Park, multi-use recreational fields would be developed to service soccer and lacrosse, but would also be available
for rugby, football, field hockey, Ultimate Frisbee, and in a limited role, baseball and softball. Increasing the inventory of open fields dedicated to soccer and lacrosse enhances
access opportunities to current fields, thus accommodating program growth for other field sports and leagues.
Has the exact site been identified yet?
After two years of site reviews
and evaluation, the 80 acre parcel currently under contract located between the corners of Baxter and Flanders Mill and Baxter and Cottonwood Road was chosen based on the following
criteria (Appendix D) .
Tract within or adjoining city boundary within suitable distance of current and projected city population growth.
Tract 50 acres or greater that when developed
would meet minimum capacity requirements for tournament selection while providing for future growth of sports field community.
Reasonable acquisition price.
Western location in the valley
floor to ensure optimal seasonal use. Youth soccer and lacrosse are played in the spring. The general location of the chosen property receives less snow and melts free of snow much
earlier than other areas of town. This criterion is critical to maximizing the use of the fields.
Sufficient water rights for natural turf growth, development, and on-going maintenance.
Accessible
to visiting teams from commercial lodging and retail centers.
Given these criteria and a limited pool of qualifying properties, we are confident we have chosen the best site for the
Bozeman Sports Park.
Briefly explain how the project creates long term value for the residents of Bozeman.
Prior attempts to purchase and develop a multi-use sports park were extremely
limited by availability of large tracts, excessive land costs, and lack of public funding. The Trails Open Space and Parks bond offers a once in a generation opportunity to invest in
such a park when land prices are within reason, significant public funding is available, and public demand is high and growing. Bozeman is the only Montana city of significant size
that does not have a multi-use sports park for the use of its community and is not a competitor for statewide or regional tournaments. Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and
Missoula currently host the major soccer and lacrosse tournaments.
Bozeman as a host city is an extremely attractive destination for visiting guests, and paired with a high quality attractive
sports park and an energized volunteer base would offer a tournament destination unmatched in the 3 state Northern Rockies region. Currently, Bozeman Blitzz FC is planning an
invitational tournament that by 2016 will attract 120 teams. As a community amenity, a high quality multi use sports park is extremely attractive to potential residents and their families
who are seeking an active, youth oriented community that is willing to invest in such.
Please List all groups /organizations involved or contributing to this project and what their
short and long term commitments will be.
Bozeman Blitzz FC and Gallatin Valley Lacrosse League are the primary sponsors supporting this project and, as partners with Bozeman Parks and
Recreation Department, are taking a leadership role in developing, constructing, and managing the Sports Park. The Gallatin Valley Land Trust has been a consultant for this project
regarding internal trails and connectivity to the existing trail network. In the short term, Bozeman Blitzz FC and Gallatin Valley Lacrosse and their volunteers will commit to developing
and executing a philanthropic capital campaign seeking cash, pledges, donated value, and services in lieu of cash to this project. As the project matures Bozeman Adult Soccer, AYSO,
Bozeman Adult Lacrosse, and Bozeman Cutthroat Rugby will be asked to join a management and maintenance “Sports Authority” that would ensure the long term maintenance and management of
the facility in a manner that sustains and supports a high quality, regionally attractive venue. We are in discussions with a private party who has proposed the purchase and development
of 15 acres to build and operate an indoor multi use sports facility.
Please describe the anticipated maintenance requirements for the site and who will be responsible for the maintenance.
The
management and stewardship of a high quality sports park will require a significant management and maintenance commitment from the city and organized user groups. Annual costs will
exceed $60,000 (see attached budget). Bozeman Blitzz FC and Gallatin Valley Lacrosse would commit to a long term use agreement and would be the initial anchors for this facility. Private
fundraising for the sports park will include a Facility Operations Fund that will be used to bridge annual expenses until revenue and fees meet expenses. Phase 2 of the project would
be completed with a private entity and/or with private philanthropy, and if applicable, state or federal grants. The development of a Sports Authority governing body would partner with
the City and together would secure and guide financial resources for the annual maintenance and management of the facility.
Are you aware of any mitigation needs on any part of the
proposed property? If so please explain.
There are currently no mitigation needs that we are aware of.
Appendices include:
Appendix A: Neighborhood Overview, Existing Community Sport Fields, Youth Soccer & Lacrosse Growth, Site Selection
Appendix B: Sports Park Schematic Overview
with Proposed Phases
Appendix C: Phase One Construction Budget, Project Schedule, Maintenance & Maintenance Equipment Budget
Appendix D: Purchase and Sell Agreement