city of spearfish, south dakota · the city of spearfish is looking at the feasibility of...

City of Spearfish, South Dakota

Multipurpose Sports Complex Feasibility Study

March 2014

Multipurpose Sports Complex Feasibility Study Page | i

Acknowledgements

City of Spearfish City Council Mary Morgan, Ward I Travis Geppert, Ward I Paul Young, Ward 2 Doug Schmit, Ward 2 Don Aaker, Ward 3 Doug Baker, Ward 3

City of Spearfish Administration Dana Boke, Mayor

Joe Neeb, City Administrator Keith Hepper, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Superintendent

City of Spearfish Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Randy Deibert, Board Chair

Lynn Roberts, Board Vice Chair Charl ie Neilson, Board Member Jerry Hargis , Board Member Karen Hahn, Board Member Barb Cline, Board Member

Jesse Hanson, Board Member Paul Young, City Counci l

Mary Morgan, City Counci l

Black Hills State University Staff Jhett Albers, Athlet ic Director

Consultant Team Pat O’Toole, Principal , GreenPlay, LLC Carol Henry, Principal , Design Concepts

For more information about this document, contact GreenPlay, LLC At: 211 North Public Road, Suite 225, Lafayette, Colorado 80026, Telephone: 303‐439‐8369 Fax: 303‐664‐5313

Toll Free: 866‐849‐9959 Email: [email protected] www.greenplayllc.com

Page | ii City of Spearfish, South Dakota

Table of Contents I. Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1

A. Purpose of this Plan...................................................................................................................... 1 B. Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 1 C. Total Capital Cost Estimates ......................................................................................................... 5 D. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 5

II. Past, Present, and Future: The Planning Context ............................................................................... 7 A. Purpose of this Plan...................................................................................................................... 7 B. Background Information Regarding Spearfish Facilities .............................................................. 7 C. Methodology of this Planning Process ......................................................................................... 8 D. Timeline for Completing the Multipurpose Sports Complex Feasibility Study ............................ 9

III. What We Want – Our Community and Identified Needs ............................................................... 11 A. Population and Demographic Trends ......................................................................................... 11 B. Public Input ................................................................................................................................. 14

IV. What We Have Now: An Analysis of Spaces and Activities ........................................................... 19 A. Current Sports Facilities ............................................................................................................. 19 B. Findings and Preliminary Recommendations ............................................................................. 21

V. Site Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 23 A. Assessment of Proposed Sites .................................................................................................... 23

VI. Great Things to Come: Recommendations ...................................................................................... 37 A. New Sports Complex Site Size Requirements ............................................................................ 37 B. Redevelopment of Existing Athletic Field Sites .......................................................................... 38 C. Development of New 100‐Acre Multipurpose Sports Complex ................................................. 42 D. Capital Cost Estimates ................................................................................................................ 44 E. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 55

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List of Tables Table 1: Population projections for Spearfish 25 Mile Radius Target Area ................................................ 11 Table 2: Spearfish Target Area Housing Units............................................................................................. 14 Table 3: Spearfish Existing Sports Facilities ................................................................................................ 19

List of Figures Figure 1: Spearfish Target Area Population by Gender .............................................................................. 11 Figure 2: 2012 Population Age Distributions for the Spearfish Target Area, South Dakota, and the United

States ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 3: 2012 Racial/Ethnic Distributions for the Spearfish Target Area in 2000 and 2010, with

projections for 2017 .................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 4: Sports Complex Area Estimates Chart ......................................................................................... 37 Figure 5: Map 1 ‐ Black Hills State University and Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex

Redevelopment ........................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 6: Map 3 – Spartan Park Redevelopment ........................................................................................ 40 Figure 7: Map 6 ‐ Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex ......................................................................... 40 Figure 8: Graphic for 100‐Acre New Athletic Complex ............................................................................... 43 Figure 9: Estimate of Probable Costs for Redevelopment of Black Hills State University Fields, 420 South

Dakota Way ................................................................................................................................. 44 Figure 10: Estimate of Probable Costs for Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex Redevelopment .... 45 Figure 11: Estimate of Probable Costs for Spartan Park Redevelopment .................................................. 46 Figure 12: Estimate of Probable Costs for Black Hills Sports Complex Redevelopment............................. 48 Figure 13: Estimate of Probable Costs for New 100‐Acre Athletic Complex .............................................. 49 Figure 14: Estimate of Probable Costs for New Stand Alone Field House Option ...................................... 52 Figure 15: Estimate of Probable Costs for New Softball and Soccer Complex Option ............................... 53

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Multipurpose Sports Complex Feasibility Study Page | 1

I. Executive Summary

A. Purpose of this Plan The City of Spearfish is looking at the feasibility of developing a sports complex to not only enhance local sports activities, but also to be able to draw a regional tourist market to Spearfish to capitalize on the sports economic impact trend. A focus was placed on winter tourism through the possibility of hosting regional, state, and national tournaments, and the plan also focused on a lack of sports facilities available to the public. The process undertaken included a needs assessment and the prioritization of recreational facilities, amenities, and programmatic needs of local sports organizations, schools, and Black Hills State University with an emphasis on resident input for improvements that they will support.

B. Recommendations

Design and Build a New Sports Complex The new multipurpose sports complex would include ten soccer fields, a five‐star field softball complex, a field house with eight full size indoor basketball courts, and the parking, buffer, grading, and support amenities to go with each facility. The new sports complex must be built and ready for play prior to renovations at the other existing sports venues in the community. The recommended soccer complex, consisting of ten regulation soccer fields, including a championship stadium field, will contain enough fields to house all the soccer league games, tournaments, and practices for the current needs as well as for the next 15 years. The ten regulation fields can be converted into numerous smaller fields in many different configurations for the younger age groups. The championship stadium soccer field and one additional regulation field will be artificial turf, with the remaining eight fields consisting of natural turf. For the championship field, an NCAA regulation artificial turf soccer field is recommended, complete with stadium seating, rest rooms, concessions, and locker rooms. It is recommended that the facility be fenced with the ability to charge admission where the BHSU soccer team will have priority use for all of their needs. It is envisioned that the cost of these amenities will be paid by the University. Tournament and/or league championship soccer games would be played on this field only if they did not interfere with any BHSU soccer activities. Any of the existing soccer fields in the community that are not being renovated should remain as soccer and football practice fields to alleviate overuse of the new soccer fields at the sports complex. The recommended five‐star adult softball complex has 330’ to 325’ fences that are required for any adult state slow‐pitch softball tournaments. The softball complex includes enough fields for all of the adult softball leagues, tournaments, and practices currently and for the next 15 years.

Page | 2 City of Spearfish, South Dakota

The recommended field house includes eight full‐size high school gymnasium floors that can be lined and utilized for younger age groups as sixteen cross‐courts. The field house includes all supporting amenities including rest rooms, locker rooms, concessions, spectator seating, divider curtains between courts, etc. The courts can be a combination of wood for basketball/volleyball and multipurpose surface for other activities such as indoor soccer, indoor tennis, and Pickle Ball, etc. A facility of this size contains enough courts for all the youth and adult leagues, tournaments, and practices currently and for the next 15 years. The recommended new sports complex also contains all the necessary support amenities including:

Irrigation

Ball field lights

Ball field fencing

Dugouts

Scoreboards

Parking lots and security lighting

ADA accessibility

Maintenance building and fencing

Concessions

Restrooms

Playground

Spraypad

Walking trail

Outdoor basketball

Outdoor volleyball

Landscaping

Signage

Pavilion

Batting cages

Goals

Picnic tables

Benches

Bike racks

Trash receptacles

It is highly recommended that the City obtain 100 acres to develop the entire sports complex at one site, which will save a considerable amount of money in both construction costs and operational costs. If the complex is split into two or three sites, there is duplication of construction costs for infrastructure such as utilities and parking. If the field house is the only sports complex amenity located on its own site, there will be additional capital costs for any desired park amenities such as pavilions, trails, playgrounds, spraypads, etc. Having the new sports complex located on one site is also the most efficient for operations and maintenance, because all maintenance equipment will be in one location, and will not need to be moved from site to site or purchased separately for each site.

Redevelop Existing Athletic Field Sites To maximize the sports facility usage for all sports and all ages in Spearfish, some renovations to existing sports facilities is necessary to create enough venues in each sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now and for the growth over the next 15 years. The recommendations for renovations to the existing fields are detailed in this section of the report. It should also be noted that these renovations cannot take place until the new outdoor fields at the new sports complex are built and ready for competition. It is recommended that many of the current sports activities be moved to the new sports complex leaving the opportunity for renovation of current facilities that will meet the current and future demand. The Black Hills State University softball fields, Spartan Park, and Black Hills Corporate Sports Complex were found to be feasible for redevelopment to complement the new Sports Complex project, and will enable all sports venues to meet the current and future demand.


The Black Hills State University’s 420 South Dakota Way site should be converted from three 280’ adult softball fields into three women’s 225’ fields with permanent fences and warning tracks. This women’s softball facility could house all of the girls’ and women’s softball needs and be a monumental recruiting tool for BHSU women’s softball. It would be feasible that the cost of the renovation to these fields would be paid by the University. The new adult softball five field complex at the sports complex needs to be built and ready for play prior to revising these existing softball fields into permanent 225’ fences as the current adult leagues need a place to play. It is also recommended to revise the Forest Products Youth Complex’s existing baseball and soccer/ practice football fields. The suggested option for changing the SFPYC is to add two additional T‐ball fields to the western edge of the site, to shorten the Teener baseball field to a 260’ field, and to change the existing soccer/practice football fields into a 225’ Majors field. Additional parking would need to be added on‐site which is already a necessity. A second option is to add the two T‐ball fields and to add one NCAA soccer field for Black Hills University team use. The drawback to this option is that the existing site does not have enough room for the minimum NCAA soccer field dimensional requirements of 345’ x 210’, or the preferred 360’ x 225’. There would not be enough space to accommodate bleachers, rest rooms, concessions, parking, and/or locker rooms for a BHSU varsity soccer field. Our research shows room to accommodate one 330’x190’ soccer field only. An NCAA regulation soccer field is recommended, complete with stadium seating, rest rooms, concessions, rest rooms, and locker rooms. The field should be fenced with the ability to charge admission, and the BHSU soccer team will have priority use for all of their needs. It is recommended that the cost of these amenities at the new sports complex be paid by the University. Tournament and/or league championship soccer games would be played on this field only if they did not interfere with any BHSU soccer activities. As discussed with the Black Hills State University Athletic Director at the findings meeting, the University needs to approve and endorse this recommendation, as it will take their varsity soccer program off‐site. This decision should be made prior to renovating existing combination soccer/practice football fields. Recommendations at Spartan Park include renovating the existing two football/Ultimate Frisbee fields, two sand volleyball, and one dog park into two lighted football fields with bleachers. The recommendations for the Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex includes the renovation of the two existing soccer fields into one women’s 225’ softball field and one Teener field with 305’ foul lines and a 320’ center field. This renovation allows all the younger baseball activities to take place at the Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex that expands by one or two fields and tournaments can be an option. This renovation also allows all the 13 to 19 year old baseball at the Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex to include two regulation grass infield baseball fields.

Please refer to the recommendations section of the report for detailed information on the recommendations for new sports complex and existing sports venues

including aerial photographs, concepts, and space necessary for the amenities.


Tennis Facilities There is an existing master plan for the improvements to the tennis courts in Spearfish that will create enough quality courts and amenities for all types of tennis activities including leagues, tournaments, and open play. GreenPlay reviewed the master plan and endorses the improvements to be included in the recommendations of this plan. There are currently nine outdoor tennis courts including six courts (three lighted) at the high school and three courts (none lighted) at the middle school. The surface at all three of the middle school tennis courts are very poor and are in desperate need of resurfacing. These improvements should be implemented in their entirety or phased in as the tennis association’s current funding drive allows. High School tennis courts improvements include:

1. Lighting on the three existing courts currently without lights 2. Men’s and women’s public restroom with drinking fountain 3. Picnic shelter/gazebo which can be used for tournament headquarters and shade 4. Landscaping to include grass, trees, sprinkler system, etc.

Middle School tennis courts improvements include:

1. Resurfacing all three existing courts 2. Picnic shelter/gazebo 3. Option: enclose all three courts with a Morton building or a bubble for year‐round play

Convert one tennis court at City Park into a Pickle Ball court. This would be very inexpensive to create, as the only requirements are a lower net and different lines painted on the surface. The Spearfish Recreation and Aquatics Center Renovations recommended at the Spearfish Recreation and Aquatics Center include:

1. Add another full gymnasium space to the existing gymnasium space. 2. Expand the suspended walking track above the gymnasium to include both gymnasium spaces. 3. Creating dividers along the pillars located in the large multipurpose space that can be removed

for large activities but scheduled (or rented) for smaller activities. Walkways should be included within the dividers so patrons do not have to go through any other smaller multi‐purpose rooms to get to the one where their activity is located.

Existing Soccer Fields Recommendations at all the existing soccer fields that are not being renovated include:

1. Utilizing the soccer fields as practice fields. This will rest the new soccer complex fields and keep them from wearing out the grass in the goal mouths and center of the fields.


C. Total Capital Cost Estimates The capital costs for redevelopment of existing athletic fields in Spearfish, as well as a new 100‐acre sports facility were calculated in 2013 figures for City of Spearfish review. Estimates of probable costs for redevelopment of the existing sports venues are as follows: Black Hills State University Fields, 420 South Dakota Way $213,598.04 Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex $830,141.88 Spartan Park $2,075,962.75 Black Hills Sports Complex $811,051.70

Total for Redevelopment of Existing Sports Venues $3,930,754.37 New 100‐Acre Athletic Complex $44,443,176.83

Total for Sports Complex Feasibility Study Plan (One New Site) $48,373,931.30 Cost Estimates for Two Sites Total for Redevelopment of Existing Sports Venues $3,930,754.37 New 15‐Acre Field House $26,846,215.85 New 88‐Acre Softball and Soccer Complex $23,307,476.68

Total for Sports Complex Feasibility Study Plan (Two New Sites) $54,084,446.69

D. Conclusion To maximize the sports facility usage for all sports and all ages in Spearfish, the renovations to existing sports facilities are necessary to create enough venues in each sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now, and will continue to be sufficient as the City grows over the next 15 years. The new sports complex including five adult softball fields, ten regulation soccer fields, and a field house with eight high school size basketball courts is necessary to create enough venues in each indoor sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now, and will continue to be sufficient as the City grows over the next 15 years. The outdoor fields need to be built and ready to play on prior to the renovations to the existing fields so sports organizations that currently are playing on the fields do not get displaced. It is recommended that all of these sports venues be built in one location, as the most cost effective, because there will be no need to duplicate infrastructure costs of parking and utilities. If the field house is built on its own location, any park amenities such as picnic shelters, trails, playgrounds, splash pads, etc. will be duplicated at an additional cost. Having the new sports complex located on one site is also the most efficient for operations and maintenance, because all maintenance equipment will be in one location, and will not need to be moved from site to site or purchased separately for each site.


It is also recommended that all MOUs be reviewed and updated prior to the sports complex being designed to make sure all parties are in agreement. All MOUs need to be reviewed annually and adjustments made that are up to date and agreed upon by both parties. Please refer to the capital cost estimate matrix in the following section of the report for a detailed listing of the supporting amenities as well as the major features of the recommended new sports complex. It is highly recommended to develop the entire sports complex at one site, but if it is desirable to split the new sports complex into two or three sites, the conceptual plan can be split accordingly to fit on the two or three sites.


II. Past, Present, and Future: The Planning Context

A. Purpose of this Plan The City of Spearfish is evaluating the feasibility of developing a sports complex to enhance local sports activities and be able to draw a regional tourist market to Spearfish to capitalize on the sports economic impact trend. A focus was placed on winter tourism through the possibility of hosting regional, state, and national tournaments. The plan also focused on a lack of sports facilities available to the public. The process undertaken included a needs assessment and the prioritization of recreational facilities, amenities, and programmatic needs of local sports organizations, schools, and Black Hills State University with an emphasis on resident input for improvements that they will support.

B. Background Information Regarding Spearfish Facilities Spearfish is located in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Spearfish’s population is 10,494. The community has maintained a steady rate of growth over the past 125 years. The community takes pride in being a progressive, growing community where individuals and businesses have access to the many diverse resources necessary for a good quality of life. The current City‐owned and co‐owned facilities used by local sports associations include:

Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex One legion baseball field One youth softball field Two soccer fields

Spearfish Forest Products Field Complex (co‐owned with Black Hills State University) Three youth baseball fields Six unofficial youth soccer fields

Hillsview Soccer Fields One soccer field

State Street Park Two youth football fields Horseshoe pits Two sand volleyball courts Basketball courts Playground

Spearfish Softball Complex (owned by Black Hills State University) Three adult softball fields

Spearfish Tennis Courts High school – six courts Middle school – three courts

Spearfish City Park One sand volleyball court One basketball court One tennis court


West Elementary Softball Field One youth softball field

High School Practice Fields

Burger King Field for Ultimate Frisbee Rugby Soccer

C. Methodology of this Planning Process This project has been guided by a project manager, Keith Hepper, Superintendent of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry. Keith and his Spearfish constituents provided input to the GreenPlay consulting team throughout the planning process. This collaborative effort creates a plan that fully utilizes the consultant’s expertise and incorporates the local knowledge and institutional history that only the Spearfish community can provide. The project consisted of the following tasks: Strategic Kick Off Meeting and Facility Tour

Onsite initial meeting with Mayor and City Council, City Manager, as well as Parks and Recreation staff

Parks, Recreation, Forestry Advisory Board to discuss the scope of the project and expectations

Current sports facility tour Demographics Compilation

Determination of the community profile Stakeholder Interviews Individual focus group meetings with current sports organization users groups to determine:

Current participant numbers

Budgets

Current schedules and use times

Areas of deficiencies for field use

Desire to host tournaments and minimum required fields for hosting

Projected participant numbers for the next 5, 10, 15 years

Projected field needs for the next 5, 10, 15 years Public Focus Group

Community meeting to discuss the support, needs, and desires for sports facilities Needs Assessment

Analysis of existing facilities and use to determine best usage

Analysis of trends to determine future sports usage Findings Meeting

Meeting with all stakeholders to share findings, preliminary recommendations, and to gather any remaining thoughts and concerns


Site Analysis and Inventory of Existing Facilities

Collection of information regarding, and tour of six potential sites

Site analysis of the potential sites to determine the best option for a new multipurpose sports complex

Capital Plan with Capital Costs

A plan of usage for a new multipurpose sports complex and existing facilities for the next five years to include costs to upgrade and improve new and existing facilities

Final Report

A Draft Report for review, edits, and comments to be included in the Final Report Final Presentation

Presentation of the final plan

D. Timeline for Completing the Multipurpose Sports Complex Feasibility Study Strategic Kick‐off Meeting and Sports Facilities Tours May 2013 Demographics June 2013 Focus Groups and Public Involvement July 2013 Needs Assessment August – September 2013 Findings Presentation October 2013 Site Analysis November 2013 Capital Plan with Cost Estimates December 2013 – January 2014 Draft Plan January 2014 Final Plan February 2014 Final Presentation March 2014


III. What We Want – Our Community and Identified Needs

Understanding community demographics and needs is an important component of planning for a future sports complex in the City of Spearfish. This chapter of the Feasibility Study provides a demographic overview of a 25‐mile radius around the City, along with results from the public input process.

A. Population and Demographic Trends

Sources This analysis uses figures from the 2010 U.S. Census as well as projections from ESRI Business Information Solutions. ESRI offers a more current look at Census data by calculating current year estimates, as well as five‐year projections for population and breakdowns.

Population Projections Although future population growth cannot be predicted with certainty, it is helpful to make assumptions about it for planning purposes. Table 1 contains population estimates and projections based on the 2010 U.S. Census for the Spearfish 25 mile radius target area in the years 2012 and 2017. The annual growth rate for the target area, from 2000 through 2010, was .9 percent. ESRI’s projected annual growth rate for 2012 through 2017 is .98 percent for the target area, compared to a projected annual growth rate of 1.10 percent for the State of South Dakota and a rate of .68 percent for the country as a whole. Table 1: Population projections for Spearfish 25 Mile Radius Target Area

US Census (2000 and 2010 ) and ESRI Projections

2000 Population 38,609 2010 Population 42,194 2012 Estimated 43,299 2017 Projected 45,457

Source: 2010 Census and ESRI Business Information Solutions 2012Demographic and Income Profile.

Gender Distribution The gender distribution in the Spearfish target area has remained relatively consistent over the years, with the female population slightly higher than the male population but approaching 50 percent, as demonstrated in Figure 1. Figure 1: Spearfish Target Area Population by Gender Source: ESRI Business Information Solutions

2000 2010 2017

49.2% 49.5% 49.9%

50.8% 50.5% 50.1%

Male Female


Age Distribution As part of the population trend analysis for the Spearfish target area, it is useful to compare the area’s 2012 estimated age distribution to that of the State of South Dakota and the United States. According to ESRI’s demographic profile, the median age in the Spearfish target area in 2012 was 41.9 compared to a median age of 37.2 for the State of South Dakota and 37.3 for the United States. The median age for the Spearfish area is trending older, from 38.0 in 2000 to 41.3 in 2010. It is forecast to be 43.3 in 2017. This indicates that the youth playing sports are getting older as well. The older youth sports teams tend to play in more tournaments. As illustrated in Figure 2, the age distribution within the Spearfish target area is skewed significantly in favor or those between the ages of 45 to 64 when compared to the other age groups in the target area. The next largest age cohort in the Spearfish area is the 25‐34 age cohort. When compared to the age distribution in the State of South Dakota (12.5%) and the United States (12.3%), the Spearfish area’s percentage of adults in the 55‐64 age range (15.1%) is significantly higher. The Spearfish area’s population percentage in the 65‐84 age range (14.5%) is also higher than that for either South Dakota (12.3%) or the United States (11.7). Likewise, the Spearfish area’s population percentage in the 25‐44 age range (21.4%) is lower than that for either South Dakota (24.2%) or the United States (26.4%). Figure 2: 2012 Population Age Distributions for the Spearfish Target Area, South Dakota, and the United States Source: ESRI Business Information Solutions 2012Demographic and Income Profiles.

The following age breakdown is used to separate the population into age sensitive user groups.

Under 5 years: This group represents users of preschool programs and facilities. As trails and open space users, this age group is often in strollers. These individuals are the future participants in youth activities.

5 to 14 years: This group represents current youth program participants.

15 to 24 years: This group represents teen/young adult program participants moving out of the youth programs and into adult programs. Members of this age group are often seasonal employment seekers.

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

0 ‐ 4 5 ‐ 9 10 ‐14

15 ‐19

20 ‐24

25 ‐34

35 ‐44

45 ‐54

55 ‐64

65 ‐74

75 ‐84

85+

Age Cohorts

Spearfish 25 mi radius

State of South Dakota

United States


25 to 34 years: This group represents potential adult program participants. Many in this age group are beginning long‐term relationships and establishing families.

35 to 54 years: This group represents users of a wide range of adult programming and park facilities. Their characteristics extend from having children using preschool and youth programs to becoming empty nesters.

55 to 64 years: This group represents users of older adult programming exhibiting the characteristics of approaching retirement or already retired and typically enjoying grandchildren. This group may also be caring for older parents.

65 years plus: Nationally, this group will be increasing dramatically. Pew Research reports that by the time all Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2030, 18 percent of the nation’s population will be at least that old. Programming for this group should positively impact the health of older adults through networking, training and technical assistance, and fundraising. Recreation centers, senior centers, and senior programs can be a significant link in the health care system. This group ranges from very healthy, active seniors to more physically inactive seniors.

Racial/Ethnic Distribution and Household Income Comparisons The Spearfish target area carries a significantly Caucasian population, which was at 95.6 percent in 2000 and 94.4 percent in 2010. This portion of the population is expected to comprise 92.7 percent in 2017. This population will decrease slightly, and Figure 3 shows how the population is changing along racial and ethnic lines. As the chart reflects, the American Indian, Black Alone, Two or More Races, and Hispanic Origin (any race) categories all are predicted to grow by 2017. The Hispanic population is projected to comprise 3.8 percent of the population in 2017, up from 2 percent in 2000; the American Indian population is predicted to reach 2.3 percent, up from 2.1 percent in 2000; and the Black population will grow from .2 percent to .8 percent of the population. Those people identifying as “Two or More Races” are expected to grow from 1.3 to 2.7 percent of the population. These increases need to be watched and responded to over the years, as they will introduce larger cultural expectations and differences in sports participation from these groups. Figure 3: 2012 Racial/Ethnic Distributions for the Spearfish Target Area in 2000 and 2010, with projections for 2017 Source: ESRI Business Information Solutions 2012 (Note: Hispanic data is not race dependent.)

BlackAlone

AmericanIndianAlone

AsianAlone

SomeOtherRaceAlone

Two orMoreRaces

HispanicOrigin

(Any Race)

2000 0.2% 2.1% 0.3% 0.5% 1.3% 2.0%

2010 0.3% 2.0% 0.5% 0.6% 2.1% 2.6%

2017 0.8% 2.3% 0.7% 0.8% 2.7% 3.8%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%


Household Income, Employment Rate, Household Size and Housing Units According to ESRI Business Information Solutions, the 2012 median household income for the Spearfish target area (25 mile radius) is estimated at $39,532 and is predicted to rise to $46,106 in 2017. The median household income level is very adequate for league and tournament participation. A comparison of unemployment rates for Lawrence County, South Dakota, (the county in which Spearfish is located) in 2008, 2011 and 2013 reflects the effect of the Great Recession on employment opportunities for the county: 2.7 percent unemployment in January 2008 to a high of 5.6 percent in February 2011 and coming back down to 4.1 percent in May 2013. This increase in unemployment will have an effect on the discretionary spending for sports facilities and activities. (Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, www.bls.gov/lau/, accessed on July 19, 2013). As reflected in Table 3, the Spearfish target area had 17,887 housing units in 2000, 21,111 units in 2010, and is projected to increase to 22,646 units in 2017. The percentage of owner occupied to renter occupied property was slightly higher in 2000 than in recent years, at 58.3 percent to 28.7 percent with a high vacancy rate of 13%. The renter occupied rate and vacancy rate for the target are estimated to have peaked in 2012 at 29.3 percent and 14.1 percent, respectively, according to ESRI calculations. The average household size in 2012 is estimated to be 2.27. A new sports complex could increase home buyers based on the quality of life the facilities and activities provide. Homeowners tend to have a greater investment in the community and stay longer than renters particularly in a college town. Table 2: Spearfish Target Area Housing Units

Source: 2010 Census and ESRI Business Information Solutions 2012 Market Profile.

B. Public Input

Focus Group and Public Forum Input Summary GreenPlay facilitated four focus groups and one public forum open to residents, most of whom frequently use the sports facilities and/or programs located in Spearfish. The information gathered is very important to identify the sports facility needs of the community. The following is a summary of the focus groups and public forum input which was used to develop the multipurpose sports complex recommendations.

2000 2010 2012 2017

Total housing units

17,887 21,111 21,467 22,646

Occupation Percentages:

Owner occupied 58.3% 57.2% 56.7% 57.5%

Renter occupied 28.7% 28.8% 29.3% 29.5%

Vacant 13.0% 14.0% 14.1% 13.0%


Focus group participants were asked what they thought were the strengths of Spearfish facilities, programs, and activities. These were the responses, in no particular order:

Maintenance on fields

Lots of opportunities for town size

Very good recreational and competitive programs

Shared usage of quality facilities

Restaurants and hotel space is good, Spearfish accommodates large groups very well

People come for events, but also make it a vacation because of other area draws

Good youth and family involvement

Associations are strong with good participation on boards

Leadership Focus group participants were asked what they thought were weaknesses or areas of improvement for the Spearfish facilities, programs, and activities. These were the responses, in no particular order:

Ability to host larger tournaments and bring families to Spearfish is not capitalized on due to the lack of sports facilities

Currently turning teams away because of lack of sports facilities

Lack of coordination of the large variety of teams

The quality of boards/association/training could be improved

Lack of training for coaches Participants were asked to vote on several topics on a scale of one to five with 5 being excellent, 4 being very good, 3 being good, 2 being fair, and 1 being poor. The topics and average ratings for all the focus groups included:

The overall quality of the current sports programs offered in Spearfish was rated 3.0, which is good.

The overall quality of the existing sports facilities in Spearfish was rated 2.5, which is between good and fair.

The overall quality of maintenance at the existing sports facilities in Spearfish was rated 4.0, which is very good.

When asked what they thought were some additional sports programs and activities they would like to see offered in Spearfish in the future, participants gave these responses (in no particular order):

Hockey (collegiate and club levels)

Lacrosse (emerging sport)

Youth volleyball

Co‐ed softball

Outdoor Pickle Ball

Outdoor table tennis

Ultimate Frisbee


When asked what types of new sports facilities they would like to see built in Spearfish, participants gave these responses (in no particular order):

Better organization of what we have

Adult softball complex

Soccer complex

Field house – basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, indoor tennis, Pickle Ball, etc.

Lights on all fields and courts

Outdoor Pickle Ball courts

Ultimate Frisbee – open space Participants were asked for suggestions of different types of methods of financial support to implement the feasibility study recommendations. These were the responses, in no particular order:

Taxes to build sports complex

User fees to operate sports complex Tournament fees Entry fees League Fees

Dedicated share of additional economic impact revenues brought in by tournaments such as hotel/motel tax and/or sales tax

Sales tax – percent dedicated to sports complex

Tournament hotel surcharge

Use of a transparent operational budget for field space dependent upon need

Sports commission or sports authority to organize field and court use as well as funding When asked if they thought the community would support a bond referendum or sales tax continuance, most did not think so, although they thought most residents would support some sort of an increase if there was a good educational and informational campaign established so they all knew exactly on what their increase would be spent. Most thought if the economic impact was demonstrated to the business community, the funding needed for the multipurpose sports complex would be supported. The focus group participants were asked what potential partnerships could assist in implementation of the multipurpose sports complex. These are the answers received in no particular order:

Black Hills State University

Businesses

Affluent residents who see the big picture

Black Hills Power

Tourism establishments

Hotels

Champions within community that truly believe a sports complex and economic impact is important


When asked what they thought were the key issues and values of the multipurpose sports complex feasibility study, focus group participants responded, in no particular order:

Need something in Spearfish from September to May

Increase in taxes will not be received all that well

Some groups in the community are very set in their ways

Need to see required coach’s training so they can communicate better with the youth

No good distinction between competitive and recreational sports In response to perceived priorities for the new multipurpose sports complex, focus group participants responded, in no particular order:

Soccer seems like the easiest to relocate and solve many problems at once

Lights installed at existing and new facilities

Adult softball

Fieldhouse

Youth soccer

Play areas at existing fields. All of the ideas that came out of the public focus groups are an extremely important part of the process to determine the sports complex amenities needs assessment priorities. Most of the ideas that were heard many times throughout the focus group process can be utilized by Spearfish for future improvements. Most of them are included in the recommendations of the sports complex feasibility study, although a few of the ideas are beyond the sports complex feasibility study realm. It does not diminish the importance of the ideas and they should be investigated and potentially implemented as future operational changes.


IV. What We Have Now: An Analysis of Spaces and Activities

A. Current Sports Facilities GreenPlay toured all the existing sports facilities in Spearfish and conducted a functional assessment including interviews with staff and the sports organizations currently utilizing them. A walk through tour of each recreational facility was conducted during the strategic kick‐off trip as well as the findings presentation trip. The assessment of existing facilities consisted of an analysis of the overall condition as it related to current conditions, functional use, capacity, quality, facility trends, usability, customer service, comfort, convenience, customer satisfaction, and safety. The condition of the overall facilities and their amenities as well as the community input is the basis for the recommendations. Currently the community and sports organizations are satisfied overall with the operations of the sports facilities with a few exceptions. These exceptions are listed within the community input summary and have been addressed in the recommendations. The existing sports facilities that are currently being utilized in Spearfish are listed in Table 3, along with some details on sizes and amenities included at the sites. Table 3: Spearfish Existing Sports Facilities

SPEARFISH SPORTS VENUES OUTDOOR VENUES

Facility Name Address Acres Uses and Dimensions Lights Irrigation

BHSU Adult Softball Fields 420 South Dakota Way

3 adult softball fields base lines: 70' foul lines: 300' center field: 370'

X X

BHSU Football Field & Track 1615 St Joe 1 track with 8 lanes X X

1 ‐ Division I football field 360' X 150'

BHSU Football Practice Fields South

1200 University 2 practice fields 120' X 159' and 238' X 160'

X

BHSU Football Practice Fields North

1200 University 1 practice field 353' X 190' X

BH Corp. Sports Complex 350 W. Hwy 14 18 1 Legion baseball field base lines: 90' foul lines: 330' center field: 400'

X X

1 softball field base lines: 65' foul lines: 225' center field: 250'

X X

2 soccer fields 320' X 220' X X

High School Tennis Courts 1725 N Main 6 tennis courts 3 of 6 N/A


High School Football Field & Track

1725 N Main 1 track with 8 lanes

1 ‐ football field 527' X 203' X

High School Practice Field 1725 N Main 391' X 339' X

High School Burger King Field 1725 N Main 1 ‐ soccer/Ultimate Frisbee 324' X 209' X

Hillsview Soccer Fields 421 Hillsview Rd. 3 1 ‐ soccer field OR 2 ‐ smaller fields 235' X 148'

X

Middle School Tennis Courts 1600 Canyon Street 3 ‐ tennis courts N/A

Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex

1455 College Lane 14 2 ‐ Majors baseball fields base lines: 60' foul lines: 91' center field: 225'

X X

1 ‐ Teener baseball field base lines: 90' foul lines: 303' center field: 320'

X X

2 ‐ Machine pitch Baseball fields X X

1 ‐ soccer field f360' X 220' OR 4 smaller soccer fields 2 @157' X 103' & 2 @ 119' X 88'

X X

2 ‐ small fields 70' X 48' X X

Spartan Park 330 State St. 15 2 ‐ football/ultimate frisbee fields 581' X 266' & 358' X 200'

X

2 ‐ sand volleyball courts 80' X 90'

Spearfish Skatepark 1835 N. Main St. 0.75 skate park

West School Softball Field 920 King Street 1 1 ‐ softball field base lines: 50' foul lines: 185' center field: 208'

X

INDOOR VENUES

Facility Name Address Acres Uses and Measurements Lights IrrigationSpearfish Rec and Aquatics Center

122 Recreation Lane N/A 2 ‐ multipurpose courts; indoor track; 4 ‐ multipurpose rooms

N/A

BHSU Young Center N/A 3 ‐ basketball/volleyball courts; 3 ‐ multipurpose courts; 1 ‐ indoor track

N/A

Spearfish High School 1725 N Main N/A 2 ‐ basketball/volleyball courts N/A

Spearfish Middle School 1600 Canyon Street N/A 1 ‐ multipurpose court N/A

Creekside Elementary 2325 North Avenue N/A 1 ‐ multipurpose court N/A

West Elementary 920 King Street N/A 1 ‐ multipurpose court N/A


B. Findings and Preliminary Recommendations GreenPlay reviewed and assessed existing sports programs and services in relation to community expectations and industry “best practices.” The assessment consisted of sports program staff and facility staff interviews, review of operations, schedules, practice and game sites, program access, capacity and use, participation trends, and site visits. GreenPlay led a collaborative session with department staff and key stakeholders and identified key facility needs, issues, and potential solutions. Based on the information gathered through community input, GreenPlay placed a focus on options for improving usage of sports facilities as well as generating potential positive economic impact for Spearfish through regional sports activities. The preliminary recommendations are integrated with findings from the focus group input, sports organizations detailed information, and facility observations. This information was critical in providing a baseline for the future of sports facilities in Spearfish while taking into consideration demand and satisfaction with the sports facilities. The following is a brief summary of the findings and preliminary recommendations for the multipurpose sports complex feasibility study. Additional sports programs and activities to be offered in Spearfish in the future are prioritized to include:

Youth volleyball

Co‐ed softball

Ultimate Frisbee

Outdoor Pickle Ball

Lacrosse was brought up as an emerging sport yet interest has not been shown in Spearfish. If future interest is shown, the rectangle fields can be easily equipped for utilization.

Hockey was mentioned as a potential collegiate and/or club level sport that could be added at Black Hills State University in the future. It was not well supported with comments including: How costly the sport was to participate in Currently not much interest in hockey How expensive an indoor ice arena is to operate

Improvements to existing sports venues are prioritized to include:

Lights on all fields and courts

Better organization of what we have

Outdoor Pickle Ball courts Sports facilities to include in the new multipurpose sports complex are prioritized to include:

Soccer complex

Field house – basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, indoor tennis, Pickle Ball, etc.

Adult softball complex


The methods of financial support to implement the feasibility study recommendations include:

Taxes to build sports complex (bond referendum)

User fees to operate sports complex Tournament Fees Entry fees League fees

Dedicated share of additional economic impact revenues brought in by tournaments such as hotel/motel tax and/or sales tax

Tournament hotel surcharge going back to the sports complex operational budget Realistic partnerships to assist in implementation of the multipurpose sports complex plan include:

Black Hills State University to assist in developing the facilities that they will utilize

Businesses that will benefit directly from the economic impact of the sports facilities such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, shopping areas, campgrounds, etc.

Black Hills Power can assist in developing the facilities The key issues and values to be considered in the planning of the multipurpose sports complex include:

Creation of positive economic impact in Spearfish from September to May

Increase in taxes (and traffic) may not be received well by many residents

With additional sports facilities, there will be enough capacity for both good competitive and recreational sports activities to flourish


V. Site Analysis

A. Assessment of Proposed Sites Five properties were reviewed during the October 31, 2013 site visit. These properties had been earmarked by the City as potential sites for part or all of the Sports Complex development. Sites were located either north or southeast of downtown, and included the following parcels: 5525 US‐85 (Wastewater Treatment Plant), Ward, Della Vecchia, Maitland, and Vieland, and ranged from 40 to 720 acres in size. As determined by the Sports Complex Area Estimates Chart (Figure 4), a site would need to be a minimum of 100 acres to fit in all of the desired and required uses.

Aerial photo showing the City of Spearfish and potential properties.


Wastewater Treatment Plant – 5525 US‐85 Parcel Topography and Character This is the northernmost parcel considered by the City, situated on approximately 40 acres. The topography is relatively flat, rolling down to the northeast. There are only small surrounding hills or trees; the site feels exposed and a bit remote from the City. Views toward the city are attractive, backed by the adjacent mountains to the south and west. Access The divided Highway 85 makes up the eastern edge of the property. Unpaved Valley Ranch Lane runs just north of the site, and the asphalt‐paved and guttered Wastewater Treatment Plant road marks the site’s south border, with both roads providing crossings and access points to both lanes at Highway 85. The site is adjacent to Highway 85 making tournament traffic reasonably easy to accommodate. Utilities The site has no nearby domestic water source. Sewer is available at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Electrical lines run from Highway 85 to the WWTP, and along the eastern border, cutting diagonally southeast to northwest through the northeastern corner of the site, with transformers located at the northeast corner. Adjacent Land Uses The Wastewater Treatment Plant sits at the southwest corner of the site. The plant does provide sanitary sewer facilities, however. Small remote‐controlled airplanes fly immediately west of the site. The skeet club uses the land at the south central portion of the site. Both these uses would need to be relocated if soccer or softball facilities were located here. Both irrigated and non‐irrigated pasture sits to the north and east of the site.

Panorama showing the WWTP parcel viewed from the southeast corner of the site, looking northwest.

Panorama showing the WWTP parcel viewed from the southwest corner of the site, looking northeast.


Ward Land Topography and Character This 40‐acre parcel slopes gently down from south to north. The site is too small to accommodate the full complex build‐out. A ditch runs across the northeast corner of the site. Mature existing cottonwood are located along the north, west and south sides of the site, as well as rows of small to medium‐size spruce across the street to the east. The site feels enclosed by the trees, and is relatively close to the center of the City. Access The Ward Parcel sits just north of divided Highway I‐90, and half a mile west of Highway 85, and is accessible off of unpaved Brookview Road. A small borrow ditch runs between the eastern fence and Brookview Road. No local roads border to the north, west, or south. The site is accessible off of a frontage road that runs along Highway 85 and I‐90, as well as unpaved Camp Comfort Road to the north. Heavy tournament traffic would significantly impact this rural neighborhood. Utilities Electrical lines bound the east side of the site. No domestic water is available, while sewer exists across the road, east of Brookview. Adjacent Land Uses An existing farm house sits at the southeast corner of the property. I‐90 borders to the south, with the Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex just southwest across the highway. Irrigated pasture is located north and east of the site.


View at southeast corner of Ward site, looking west.


View of Ward site at northeast looking southwest.

Della Vecchia Land Topography and Character This large parcel has between 85 and 720 acres available; however, much of the land to the east and south is quite hilly and rocky. A treed drainageway runs along the eastern edge of the site, and the land along the southern border has large numbers of native pine trees. The main part of the site itself is dryland grasses. A large borrow ditch runs south of Kerwin Lane. Access Unpaved Kerwin Lane marks the site’s north border, while Cactus Place runs west of the State and County Shops property, along the west edge of the site. The site is accessible from the City off of 4‐lane Highway 85, which becomes divided highway just north of the Rio/Kerwin Lane exit. No roads run along the east or south sides of the property. Utilities Power lines run along Kerwin Lane across the north perimeter and along the west perimeter, leading to a gas pipeline site at the southwest corner of the site. No water or sewer is available.


Adjacent Land Uses The State and County Shops are located along the western border, with large‐lot housing developing to the north, and undeveloped lands to the south and east. The heart of Spearfish lies southwest of the site across from Highway 85.

View at the northwest corner of the Della Vecchia site looking south, with State and County Shops visible on the right side of the photo.


View at the northern edge of the Della Vecchia site, looking west along Kerwin Lane to the Highway 85 intersection.

Panorama of the southwest corner of the Della Vecchia site, looking north‐northeast.

Maitland Property Topography and Character Site slopes gently from south to north, with overall even grades. The only trees on site exist at the southwest corner, surrounding the existing buildings. The 54.5‐acre site is dryland grassland, and the adjacent land to the east (57‐acres) is mown pasture land. The property sits just north of the foothills, which provide an appealing backdrop.


Access The site is just south of I‐90, located between exits 14 and 17. Maitland Road, which is a narrow paved two‐lane road with borrow ditches on either side, runs along the west border of the site. Rainbow Road crosses underneath I‐90, providing access from land north of the highway. East Colorado Boulevard runs north of the business to the north, paralleling the highway. Located on the east side of town, it provides the easiest access to communities east of Spearfish. Utilities Water is available on the west side of the road. The water line is 6”, with 80 psi pressure available. Sewer lines are also available west of the road. Electric lines run along the west side of Maitland Road. Of the five properties reviewed, this one has the most readily available access to water, sewer, and electricity. Adjacent Land Uses East and south of the site is mown pasture land, with dryland grasses across the street to the west. A small cluster of houses and outbuildings exist at the southwest corner of the site, and Mountain Shadows Estates, a fully built‐out residential mobile home development, sits across Maitland Road, diagonally to the southwest. Directly north of the site, between the property and the highway, sit light industrial uses, including storage facilities, a lumber yard, and campground. Directly west are large‐lot rural residences. The use most affecting the project, however, is the airport, located across the highway to the north. The airport has FAA airspace restriction lines which will impact the height of development on the property, most notably the lighted fields. This will require the softball complex to be located on the south edge of the property, and any lights for the soccer to be located as far south as possible as well.

Panorama taken from southwest corner of the Maitland site, looking to the northeast.


Photo of southwest corner of the Maitland site looking north, along Maitland Road.


Photo at north side of the Maitland site, looking south to center of site and foothills beyond.

Vieland Property Topography and Character The Vieland site has large, rolling hills throughout the property. A large drainage cuts through the southeast corner of the site. Access The site is just south of I‐90, located between exits 14 and 17. It is also close to Highway 85, heading south out of Spearfish. Rainbow Road crosses underneath I‐90, providing access from land north of the highway. East Colorado Boulevard provides direct access along the north side of the site, paralleling the highway. Located on the east side of town, it provides the easiest access to communities east of Spearfish. Utilities Power lines run along the north and west sides of the property, with a large transformer located at the northeast corner. Water is available along the south side of East Colorado Boulevard in a 12” line. Sewer is available at the campground, south, and east of the property.


Adjacent Land Uses Dryland grasses surround all sides of the property, with Elkhorn Ridge RV Park located east of the site along Highway 85. As with the Maitland property, the use most affecting the project, however, is the airport, located across the highway to the north. The airport has FAA airspace restriction lines which will impact the height of development on the property, most notably the lighted fields. This will require the softball complex to be located on the south edge of the property, and any lights for soccer to be located as far south as possible as well.

Panorama from the northeast corner of the Vieland site, looking west.

Transformer at the northeast corner of the Vieland site.


View from the northwest corner of the Vieland site, looking south.


Site Ranking

SPEARFISH RANKINGS FOR SPORTS COMPLEX PARCELS Parcel Name and

Approximate Acreage Size Topography Access Utilities Adjacencies Total Ranking

Wastewater Treatment Plant (40) 1 3 3 2 2 11 3

Ward Land (40) 1 3 1 1 2 8 5

Della Vecchia Land (85‐720) 3 1 3 1 3 11 4

Maitland Property (54‐101) 2 3 3 3 2 13 1

Vieland Property (160) 3 2 3 2 2 12 2

Ranking Criteria Size: 1 = Site size is too small for entire complex 2 = Site has enough land, if adjacent parcel is purchased 3 = Site has enough land in its current configuration

Topography: 1 = Topography is rocky and/or steeply rolling, and will incur additional costs for construction 2 = Topography is gently rolling and will incur minor additional costs for construction 3 = Topography is relatively flat, and costs will be within the norm for construction

Access: 1 = Accessible only through residential roads, relatively high impact on neighborhoods, or would require

significant infrastructure improvements 2 = Accessible to nearby major roads, adjacent roads would require significant improvement 3 = Adjacent to major roads, nearby roads would require improvement

Utilities (water, sewer, electricity): 1 = No nearby utilities, significant cost to extend utilities to site 2 = Some nearby utilities, one or more will need to be extended to site from relatively close proximity 3 = All utilities nearby, will require minor construction upgrades to access site

Adjacencies: 1 = Nearby uses that would cause significant conflicts with complex 2 = Nearby uses that would cause some design impacts to typical site design 3 = No existing nearby uses to cause impacts to typical site design

Site Summary and Ranking of Potential Athletic Complex Sites #1 Maitland Land This site is the most appealing to develop, with good highway access for both local and regional use, mild slopes, nearby utilities, and proximity to foothills. The original Maitland land is not sufficient in size to build the entire complex, but if both 50 plus‐acre pieces of land are acquired, the entire complex can easily be built here. Road widening and surfacing improvement will likely be a cost to include in off‐site development. The most significant downside to developing this site is the airport to the north. This proximity will require the lighted fields to be constructed as far south on the property as possible, with lighting heights likely held to 70’ maximum. The parking lots will need to be located to the north, as their light heights will not be an issue with the airport.


#2 Vieland Land While this site has sufficient acreage to develop the entire complex, development will be somewhat more difficult and expensive than at the Maitland site due to the more varied topography, and the need to extend the sewer up from the RV Park. It is equally easy to access as the Maitland site from both local and regional use; however, it has only one developed road along the site’s north edge. If the entire complex is located on one site, this is the second most appealing property. As with the Maitland site, the most significant downside to developing this site is the airport to the north. This proximity will require the lighted fields to be constructed as far south on the property as possible, with lighting heights likely held to 70’ maximum. The parking lots will need to be located to the north, as their light heights will not be an issue with the airport. #3 Della Vecchia Land While the overall acreage can accommodate the entire sports complex site, the hilly and rocky nature of the land, coupled with a lack of nearby water or sewer makes this the least developable of the three larger sites studied. Overall costs for developing this site would be significantly higher than the Maitland or Vieland properties. Easy access off of Highway 85 and I‐90 and proximity to the City is the site’s other advantage. #4 Wastewater Treatment Plant Site Its size is approximately 40 acres too small to accommodate the full complex build‐out. With only sanitary sewer available, it will take more development dollars to make this site ready to build upon. Due to the treatment facilities, there is a potential for an odor issue for outdoor events. With its ease of access and mild topography, however, it is the best spot to locate the field house if the City’s property purchases require two sites instead of one. #5 Ward Land While the site’s topography and surrounding vegetation would make this a physically appealing location, the lack of nearby sewer and water would add significant expense to developing the site, as well as the cost for developing paved roads capable of handling tournament traffic loads. Access through the surrounding residential neighborhoods would also result in a higher overall negative impact in developing this site. The 40‐acre size also accommodates only limited uses for the sports complex.


VI. Great Things to Come: Recommendations

A. New Sports Complex Site Size Requirements

The new multipurpose sports complex area estimates chart (Figure 4) breaks down the amount of land required to accommodate the recommendations which include ten soccer fields, a five‐star field softball complex, a field house with eight full size indoor basketball courts, and the parking, buffer, grading, and support amenities to go with each facility. It is highly recommended to obtain 100 acres to develop the entire sports complex at one site which will save a considerable amount of money in both construction costs and operational costs. If the complex is split into two or three sites, there will be duplication of construction costs for infrastructure such as utilities and parking. If the field house is the only sports complex amenity located on its own site, there will be additional capital costs for any desired park amenities such as pavilions, trails, playgrounds, spraypads, etc. Having the new sports complex located on one site is also the most efficient for operations and maintenance, because all maintenance equipment will be in one location and will not need to be moved from site to site or purchased separately for each site.

Figure 4: Sports Complex Area Estimates Chart


B. Redevelopment of Existing Athletic Field Sites To maximize the sports facility usage for all sports and all ages in Spearfish, some renovations to existing sports facilities are necessary to create enough venues in each sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now and for the growth over the next 15 years. The recommendations for renovations to the existing fields are detailed in this section of the report. It should also be noted that these renovations cannot take place until the new outdoor fields at the new sports complex are built and ready for competition. It is recommended that many of the current sports activities be moved to the new sports complex leaving the opportunity for renovation of current facilities that will meet current and future demand. The Black Hills State University softball fields, Spartan Park, and Black Hills Corporate Sports Complex were found to be feasible for redevelopment to complement the new Sports Complex project and enable all sports venues to meet the current and future demand. The Black Hills State University’s 420 South Dakota Way site should be converted from three 280’ adult softball fields into three women’s 225’ fields with permanent fences and warning tracks as Map 1 indicates. This women’s softball facility could house all girls’ and women’s softball needs, and can serve as a monumental recruiting tool for BHSU women’s softball. We envision the cost of the renovation to be paid by the University. The new adult softball five field complex at the sports complex needs to be built and ready for play prior to revising these existing softball fields into permanent 225’ fences, as the current adult leagues need a place to play. Map 1 also provides sketches revising the Forest Products Youth Complex’s existing baseball and soccer/practice football fields. Two potential layouts were shown for changing the SFPYC by adding two additional T‐ball fields to the western edge of the site, shortening the Teener baseball field to a 260’ field, and changing existing soccer/practice football fields into a 225’ Majors field, plus additional parking on‐site, which is an extreme necessity. The other option is adding two T‐ball fields and adding one NCAA soccer field for Black Hills University team use. The existing site did not have enough room for the minimum NCAA soccer field dimensional requirements of minimum 345’ x 210’, the preferred 360’ x 225’, or the space to accommodate bleachers, rest rooms, concessions, parking, and/or locker rooms for a BHSU varsity soccer field. Map 1 shows room to accommodate one 330’x190’ soccer field only. We recommend a NCAA regulation soccer field complete with stadium seating, rest rooms, concessions, rest rooms, locker rooms, and fenced with the ability to charge admission at the new sports complex where the BHSU soccer team will have priority use for all of its needs. We envision the cost of these amenities at the new sports complex to be paid by the University. Tournament and/or league championship soccer games would be played on this field only if they did not interfere with any BHSU soccer activities. As dicussed with the Black Hills State University Athletic Director at the findings meeting, the University needs to approve and endorse this recommendation as it will take their varsity soccer program off‐site. This decision should be made prior to renovating the existing combination soccer/practice football fields.


Figure 5: Map 1 ‐ Black Hills State University and Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex Redevelopment

Recommendations at Spartan Park include renovating the existing two football/Ultimate Frisbee fields, two sand volleyball courts, and one dog park into two lighted football fields with bleachers as shown on Map 3.


Figure 6: Map 3 – Spartan Park Redevelopment

The Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex shown on Map 6 includes the renovation of the two existing soccer fields into one women’s 225’ softball field and one Teener field with 305’ foul lines and a 320’ center field. This renovation allows all the younger baseball activities to take place at the Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex that expands by one or two fields and tournaments can be an option. This renovation also allows all the 13 to 19 year old baseball at the Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex to include two regulation grass infield baseball fields. Figure 7: Map 6 ‐ Black Hills Corporation Sports Complex


Tennis Facilities There are currently nine outdoor tennis courts including six courts (three lighted) at the high school and three courts (none lighted) at the middle school. The surface at all three of the middle school tennis courts are very poor and are in desperate need of resurfacing. A master plan for the improvements to these tennis courts has been developed that will create enough quality courts and amenities for all types of tennis activities in Spearfish including leagues, tournaments, and open play. GreenPlay reviewed the master plan and endorses the improvements. These improvements should be implemented in their entirety or phased in as the tennis association’s current funding drive allows. High School tennis courts improvements include:

1. Lighting on the three existing courts currently without lights 2. Men’s and women’s public restroom with drinking fountain 3. Picnic shelter/gazebo which can be used for tournament headquarters and shade 4. Landscaping to include grass, trees, sprinkler system, etc.

Middle School tennis courts improvements include:

1. Resurfacing all three existing courts 2. Picnic shelter/gazebo 3. Option: enclose all three courts with a Morton building or a bubble for year‐round play

Convert one tennis court at City Park into a Pickle Ball court, which is very inexpensive to create, as the only requirements are a lower net and different lines painted on the surface. The Spearfish Recreation and Aquatics Center Renovations recommended at the Spearfish Recreation and Aquatics Center include:

1. Add another full gymnasium space to the existing gymnasium space. 2. Expand the suspended walking track above the gymnasium to include both gymnasium spaces. 3. Create dividers along the pillars located in the large multipurpose space that can be removed for

large activities but scheduled (or rented) for smaller activities. Walkways should be included within the dividers so patrons do not have to go through any other smaller multi‐purpose rooms to get to the one where their activity is located.


Existing Soccer Fields Recommendations at all the existing soccer fields that are not being renovated include:

1. Utilizing the soccer fields as practice fields. This will rest the new soccer complex fields and keep them from wearing out the grass in the goal mouths and center of the fields.

C. Development of New 100‐Acre Multipurpose Sports Complex A prototypical 100‐acre sports complex with ten soccer fields; a five‐star field softball complex; a field house with eight indoor basketball courts; and the parking, buffer, grading, and support amenities to go with each facility was developed to show how each of these elements could relate to each other on a single site which is preferred. The new sports complex must be built and ready for play prior to renovations at other sports venues in the community. The recommended soccer complex consisting of ten regulation soccer fields including the championship stadium field previously described will be enough fields to house all the soccer league games, tournaments, and practices for current needs and into the next 15 years. The ten regulation fields can be converted into numerous smaller fields in many different configurations for the younger age groups. The championship stadium soccer field and one additional regulation field will be artificial turf with the remaining eight fields being natural turf fields. For the championship field, an NCAA regulation artificial turf soccer field is recommended, complete with stadium seating, rest rooms, concessions, rest rooms, locker rooms. It should be fenced with the ability to charge admission at the new sports complex where the BHSU soccer team will have priority use for all of its needs. We envision the cost of these amenities at the new sports complex to be paid by the University. Tournament and/or league championship soccer games would be played on this field only if they did not interfere with any BHSU soccer activities. Any of the existing soccer fields in the community that are not being renovated should remain as soccer and football practice fields to alleviate overuse of the new soccer fields at the sports complex. The ten new soccer fields at the sports complex need to be built and ready for play prior to renovating any existing soccer fields in the community. The recommended five‐star adult softball complex has 325’ to 330’ fences which are required for any state adult slow‐pitch softball tournaments. The softball complex includes enough fields for all of the adult softball leagues, tournaments, and practices currently and for the next 15 years. The recommended field house includes flooring the size of eight full‐size high school gymnasiums, which can be lined and utilized for younger age groups as sixteen cross‐courts. The field house includes all supporting amenities including rest rooms, locker rooms, concessions, spectator seating, divider curtains between courts, etc. The courts can be a combination of wood courts for basketball/volleyball and multipurpose surface for other activities such as indoor soccer, indoor tennis, and Pickle Ball, etc. A facility of this size contains enough courts for all the youth and adult leagues, tournaments, and practices currently and for the next 15 years.


The recommended new sports complex also contains all the necessary support amenities including:

Irrigation

Ball field lights

Ball field fencing

Dugouts

Scoreboards

Parking lots and security lighting

ADA accessibility

Maintenance building and fencing

Concessions

Restrooms

Playground

Spraypad

Walking trail

Outdoor basketball

Outdoor volleyball

Landscaping

Signage

Pavilion

Batting cages

Goals

Picnic tables

Benches

Bike racks

Trash receptacles

Please refer to the capital cost estimate matrix in the following section of the report for a detailed listing of the supporting amenities as well as the major features of the recommended new sports complex. It is highly recommended to develop the entire sports complex at one site but if it is desirable to split the new sports complex into two or three sites, the conceptual can be split accordingly to fit on the two or three sites. Figure 8: Graphic for 100‐Acre New Athletic Complex


D. Capital Cost Estimates The capital costs for redevelopment of existing athletic fields in Spearfish, as well as a new 100‐acre sports facility were calculated in 2013 figures for City of Spearfish review. Estimates are as follows: Figure 9: Estimate of Probable Costs for Redevelopment of Black Hills State University Fields, 420 South Dakota Way


Figure 10: Estimate of Probable Costs for Spearfish Forest Products Youth Complex Redevelopment


Figure 11: Estimate of Probable Costs for Spartan Park Redevelopment


Figure 12: Estimate of Probable Costs for Black Hills Sports Complex Redevelopment


Figure 13: Estimate of Probable Costs for New 100‐Acre Athletic Complex


Figure 14: Estimate of Probable Costs for New Stand Alone Field House Option


Figure 15: Estimate of Probable Costs for New Softball and Soccer Complex Option


E. Conclusion To maximize the sports facility usage for all sports and all ages in Spearfish, renovations to existing sports facilities are necessary to create enough venues in each sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now and into the next 15 years. The new sports complex including five adult softball fields, ten regulation soccer fields, and a field house with eight high school size basketball courts is necessary to create enough venues in each indoor sport for league games, tournaments, and practices now and for the growth over the next 15 years. The outdoor fields need to be built and ready to play on prior to the renovations to the existing fields so sports organizations that currently are playing on the fields do not get displaced. It is recommended to build all these sports venues in one location, as the most cost effective. The City would not have to duplicate infrastructure costs of parking and utilities. If the field house is built on its own location, any park amenities such as picnic shelters, trails, playgrounds, splash pads, etc. will be duplicated at an additional cost.


Having the new sports complex located on one site is also the most efficient for operations and maintenance, since all maintenance equipment would be in one location and wouldn’t need to be moved from site to site or purchased separately for each site. Additional staffing will be necessary to supervise and maintain each additional site that a year in and year out cost savings can be realized if all the new venues are located on one site. It is also recommended that all MOUs be reviewed and updated prior to the sports complex being designed to make sure all parties are in agreement. All MOUs need to be reviewed annually and adjustments made that are up to date and agreed upon by both parties.

city of spearfish, south dakota · the city of spearfish is looking at the feasibility of...

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