Mark V Anderson Wrote:
On a related note, in a Strib article I read last week, it was mentioned by
the Strib writer as on offhand comment that "Minneapolis has a severe
shortage of soccer fields." I had never heard this before, and am somewhat
surprised. My son plays on a traveling soccer team, and I haven't noticed
there being difficulty getting a field. Of course I'm not involved in
running his team, so maybe it's a greater struggle than I thought. The team
plays a bunch of West Metro suburban teams. His team's home games are all
played at Nieman fields. I presume this "severe shortage" is the reason the
Nieman fields were developed? Can people comment on whether there really is
such a shortage?
In my opinion, the Park Board should be there to provide green space to residents, but shouldn't be building playing fields for whatever sport is currently in fashion. But on this List, it seems that most people have a much more expansive view of what the Board should be doing. Is it their responsibility to build up the supply of playing fields for whatever demand is out there?
My Additions to what he said:
There used to be a much bigger problem scheduling soccer fields before the Nieman complex was developed. At that time, Ft. Snelling had only three fields rather than the 6 that are there now and soccer clubs like Minneapolis United that my sons played for were not allowed to use fields at the Minneapolis Public Schools. We depended entirely on park board. The combination of getting access to some MPS fields and the expanded capacity at Ft. Snelling has helped a lot I'm sure, especially since the Nieman fields are lit and can be used later into the evening.
In addition to adding capacity, the condition of the fields at Ft. Snelling prior to redevelopment was somewhere between terrible and really bad. I personally broke a leg after stepping in a hole while playing soccer there 30 years ago and the fields weren't any better when my sons were in traveling soccer. After heavy rains, portions of the fields turned into lakes with 3-6 inches of water covering them. The goal areas were mud pits when it was wet and lake bed rock hard when it was dry. The redevelopment fixed these problems and turned the lumpy old Polo Grounds fields into a first class facility which is exactly what was intended.
By the way, soccer isn't the only sport played there - ultimate frisbee, baseball, rugby, lacrosse teams and, I'm sure, a host of others I've never even heard of all use these fields.
Minneapolis has a strong tradition of having a terrific park system and the Nieman center went a long way toward improving the "rec" side of the Park & Recreation Board. I supported the redevelopment then and now even though my boys are off in college now and don't get to play there much anymore. It's a great use of my tax dollars and one H*&^ of a lot better than a lot of other things that they get used for (subsidizing pro sports teams comes to mind as a prominent example.)
Jim Young Seward
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