Hennepin County Awards $1.9M to Local Youth Sports Programs

The Hennepin County Board on Dec. 17 approved $1.85 million in youth sports grants to “build, repair, renovate or expand youth sports facilities in Hennepin County,” the county announced last week.

• See the map above or click here to view grants awarded since 2009.

The list included facilities grants for eleven projects in 2014:

• City of Dayton for playground and safety improvements at McNeil Park for $57,000;
• City of Edina for the Edina Multi-purpose Sports Dome for $250,000;
• City of Golden Valley for play structure replacement at Wildwood Park for $50,000;
• City of Richfield for synthetic turf at Holy Angels Academy for $200,000;
• City of Robbinsdale for playfield enhancements at Lee Park for $325,000;
• City of Rogers for field lighting and storm shelter at North Community Park for $105,000;
• Intermediate District 287 for playfield improvements at South Education Center for $168,000;
• Minneapolis Public Schools for new fitness centers at Roosevelt and South High Schools for $325,000;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation for a natural swimming pool at Webber Park for $250,000;
• Orono ISD 278 for a playground and playfield improvements at the Maple Plain Discovery Center for $60,000;
• Robbinsdale ISD 281 for East Youth Playfield improvements at Northport Elementary and Park for $60,000;

There were also small equipment grants for 19 projects:

• City of Loretto $9,485 for an infield drag attachment and portable batting cage at Loretto Athletic Park;
• City of Minnetonka $6,000 for two pitching machines, four dugout benches and improvements at Optimist Park;
• City of New Hope $10,000 for dedicated dry-land training area within current ice arena at New Hope Ice Arena;
• City of Robbinsdale $8,500 for equipment storage facility, backstop netting and PA system at Lakeview Terrace Park;
• City of Robbinsdale $1,266 for field equipment and training aids at Spanjers Park;
• City of Rogers $4,000 for goals, nets and training aids at Rogers High School;
• City of St. Louis Park $4,880 for lacrosse goals and nets, back-up nets and storage facility at Saint Louis Park Jr. High;
• Village of Minnetonka Beach $777 for an adapted swing at Half Moon Park;
• Eden Prairie ISD 272 $10,000 for a wrestling mat hoist at Central Middle School;
• Hopkins ISD 270 $10,000for two turf management utility vehicles with groomers for use throughout the district;
• Minneapolis Public Schools $2,300 for crossfit equipment at Edison High School for;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $10,000 for outdoor bleachers, outdoor basketball and pitching machine at East Phillips Cultural and Community Center;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $9,750 for football sled and dummies and tip-roll bleachers for gym at North Commons Park;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $7,000 for a gym divider curtain at Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $10,000 for tip-roll bleachers for the gym at Logan Park;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $2,400 for pitching machine and protective L-screens at Sibley Park;
• Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board $1,900 for football blocking dummies, shields, chute boards at Waite Park;
• Richfield ISD 280 $10,000 for blacktop for basketball courts and two outdoor hoops at the Outdoor Play Area at 7461 Oliver Avenue South; and
• Three Rivers Park District $6,700 for two outboard motors, two ergometers at Bryant Lake.

The county will award an additional $125,000 in youth sports grants during a second round in 2014.