Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

FIELD SPORTS/ PLAY FIELDS Field sports encompass a broad suite of athletic activities that utilize a large open grassy area - often rectangular. Field sports soccer and lacrosse are undergoing significant growth in both boys and girls youth participation. Shakopee’s changing demographics often prefer soccer over traditional baseball/diamond sports. Additionally, less popular games like cricket are becoming more broadly played across the metro and there is evidence that Shakopee parks host cricket games. The increase in field sports puts pressure on traditional diamond sports. Field sports are generally more flexible than diamond sports because they can be played in a variety of open lawn spaces, sometimes including diamond sports. This provides flexibility in scheduling but also puts pressure on maintenance. Athletic associations are intimately intertwined with fields and field usage and Shakopee Parks will continue to interact and organize access. A close association with Shakopee Public Schools is vital to balancing field usage against capital and maintenance costs. These flexible areas also serve another function in the community, providing informal open space for residents to fly kites, play catch, throw the frisbee, etc. if they don’t have lawn space in their backyard. Shakopee will need to balance scheduling activities and providing non- programmed field time for resident use, especially at neighborhood parks near higher density developments where residents may not have backyards.

system vision

146 SHAKOPEE PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN | SYSTEM VISION