HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional Narrative--FINALAdditional Narrative for the Sports Park Project Application
Provide a better perspective of Bozeman’s current field inventory
The Bronken field complex was completed in 1998. The Sports
Park fields will be the first non-baseball youth athletic fields constructed in approximately 15 years. The 11 fields proposed to be constructed in the Sports Park Phase 1 will in essence
just meet our current demands for soccer and lacrosse fields. Looking forward, the six fields of Phase 2, if built within two to three years of Phase 1, will keep up with the continued
growing demand for fields. Phase 3 has the potential to build capacity ahead of Bozeman’s future needs.
Define the quality of fields that the Sports Park will provide.
The quality of
fields proposed at the Sports Park represents a significant but necessary upgrade for Bozeman. The current turf standards at Bronken equate to “Class C” field quality. They do not have
the necessary soil substrate to properly drain nor support the grass growth required for intense use during the spring, summer and fall seasons. The quality of turf proposed at the Sports
Park will make those fields “Class A” and therefore the highest quality in the state of Montana. Any artificial turf surface fields incorporated into Phase 1 will undoubtedly make the
facility a regional destination tournament and training location. While Phase 1 includes just one artificial field ideally three of the first eleven fields would be artificial. Having
multiple artificial fields would not only considerably extend the season of use but also help insure tournaments would not face cancelation due to spring or fall snow. The Sports Park
committee feels strongly that quality turf, natural and artificial can best meet the demand for field capacity and any significant savings in field costs would be applied to upgrade
to artificial turf.
Describe the matching aspects of the Sports Park project
The proposed match for the Sports Park has been called into question. The matching potential for the
Sports Project is quite different from the projects already approved by the TOPs Committee. All of the previous projects have provided varying sizes of match, but it is important to
consider the sources of matches. Matching funds for the other approved and proposed projects have come from state and federal grants via established local and national 501c3 organizations.
Other
than a few possible small grant opportunities, the Sports Park only source of match would be from private donations and in-kind services—all from local sources. It is important to consider
that Phase 2 and likely Phase 3 would be entirely funded with private funds. Upon completion of the entire project private contributions could match the municipal funds at close to a
one-to-one ratio.
Emphasize the necessity but limited scope of the master planning process
As the Sports Park application clearly indicates, a master planning process will help finalize
the overall design of Phase 1. It is critical to recognize that the master planning process for the Sports Park must be very different from that of other TOP projects. The Sports Park
is by and large already pre-programmed and in simplest terms is a large rectangle filled with as many small rectangles is as reasonably possible. A few amenities will complement the
fields, parking areas, and the concession, restroom, and storage building(s). Internal trails, landscaping, a modest playground structure and some picnic amenities will be the extent
of “discretionary” features. Accepting this is important if the master planning process is to
provide value in the identification and development of these features and understanding the concerns and the needs of the neighborhood.