Soccer field cooperation merits award

By Mark Fischenich
The Free Press

NORTH MANKATO April 22, 2008 10:17 pm

— A group of public and private entities that worked together to construct four new soccer fields near Dakota Meadows Middle School has been cited by the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs for their creative collaboration.
The fields, including a varsity field for Mankato West High School soccer teams, were completed for about $125,000, according to North Mankato City Administrator Wendell Sande.
“For the creation of four soccer fields, I think that’s a very reasonable number,” Sande said.
The Humphrey Institute chose the project for its Local Government Innovations Award, which was presented this week to the city, Mankato Area Public Schools, the Mankato United Soccer Club and Bolten and Menk, a local engineering firm.
The school district provided the land for the fields, along with $15,000; the soccer club donated $40,000; city crews most of the labor; and Bolten and Menk provided the engineering at a substantially reduced rate.

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