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Athletic Participation and Specific Sport Needs <br /> Increased participation in girls athletics. Girls athletics has grown by leaps and bounds in the <br /> 1990's. The result has been a more equitable availability of extracurricular and community choices, but <br /> the supply of facilities has not been increased to meet this new demand. <br /> Increased participation in basketball and volleyball. The popularity of basketball, and to a lesser <br /> extent volleyball, is at an all time high, nationally and locally. The number of youth and adult <br /> basketball players continues to rise. The New Brighton and Shoreview Community Center gyms are <br /> packed for pick-up basketball and volleyball. No gym time is available for scheduled league play in <br /> these facilities. <br /> Increased participation in gymnastics. More and more children are participating in gymnastics and <br /> are starting at younger ages. Due to this increased demand and the need for specialized equipment and <br /> facility set up gym space and time for gymnastics is very limited and does not meet current demand. <br /> Unmet adult basketball and volleyball demand. Due to the lack of adult size facilities,the number of <br /> adults than are able to participate in indoor league sports within the study area is much less that the <br /> average participation rate in similar size communities. This lack of participation is due to the lack of <br /> adequate facilities. <br /> • Increases in soccer participation. Soccer participation continues to increase and the lack of fields is <br /> causing over-use and damage to popular facilities. Soccer participation is limited by the field supply <br /> and almost all opportunities for multiple use fields (i.e. use of a softball outfield for a youth soccer <br /> practice area) are in place. Youth soccer participation grew 75%in the last 10 years and is forecast to <br /> continue to grow at 5-10%per year. <br /> Increased school use of school facilities. After-school use of School District gymnasiums continues to <br /> increase and limits youth and adult participation in indoor sports. There are only six full size gym <br /> facilities (11 courts )within the School District. These courts are in constant use during weekdays and <br /> on many weekends for athletic and non-athletic uses (concerts, meetings events etc.). <br /> Increased demand for practice time. Many sports participants are playing,training and practicing <br /> year-round for a sport that is seasonal. The demand for indoor practice space by school and non-school <br /> groups limits gym availability. <br /> Lack of a competitive swimming and diving facility. While the number of pools is generally adequate <br /> for community demand,the study area lacks an aquatic facility to accommodate competitive swimming. <br /> Swimming participation is stable and is limited by available pool time. Due to the high cost of a new or <br /> remodeled aquatics facility a study is recommended to determine the feasibility of a regional or multi- <br /> community facility. <br /> Increased demand for sport specific facilities. Participation in many sports is becoming more <br /> sophisticated and requires specific facilities such as; various size fields for youth soccer and youth <br /> • baseball, equipment storage areas for gymnastics, volleyball, floor hockey, etc., practice fields and <br /> equipment such as bating cages, pitching machines etc. <br /> 15 <br />