PROJECT RATIONALE:

The Caswell Regional Sporting Complex bonding request is the product of nearly a decade’s worth of regional discussion about recreational needs in the Mankato/North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area, successful extension of an existing sales and use tax, and coordinated regional planning.  At least three independent feasibility studies have been completed addressing the need for indoor recreational/court space in the area, including one by the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. All agree sufficient demand exists for construction of a fieldhouse in an area of the state underserved by this type of asset.  Enhancements to the existing park, and the addition of the indoor fieldhouse are critical pieces in a constellation of recreational investments in the Mankato/North Mankato area linked aimed at strengthening south central Minnesota for future economic and livability success.   

Upgrades to the softball and soccer fields at Caswell Park have provided needed enhancements to an existing state asset drawing 35k-55K annual visitors to the area, generating 3-5 million dollars in economic impact, and hosting approximately 35 tournaments a year. As Caswell increases its role as an in and out of state draw for sports tourism, upgrades were needed for the thirty plus year old facility.  Prior to the 2020 Bonding dollars awarded to Caswell Park, all costs for construction and improvements had been made by the City of North Mankato.

Conversations with business leaders in the community continue to include reports of difficulties attracting workers of all professional levels to the Mankato/North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area due to a lack of indoor amenities like the proposed fieldhouse.  As a result, business leaders are demanding these types of investments to continue to sustain and grow their companies in the area.  The fieldhouse expansion will increase the regional economic impact of Caswell by increasing the number of months the park operates from six to twelve with the addition of indoor winter sports like basketball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball.  In the Mankato/North Mankato area a need exists for additional events hosted in the winter to draw visitors to the area, fill hotels, and provide customers to entertainment oriented businesses.  The fieldhouse expansion at Caswell will also address these needs.  

Lack of space and available time is continually mentioned by sporting groups looking to invest in local athletes and grow their programs.  This lack of space limits regular practice times, performance training, and the ability to host regional tournaments.  Numerous examples of citizens traveling into the Twin Cities Metro Area with children to participate in sporting leagues can be offered as a result of the lack of these amenities.  The constraints mentioned above induced the area basketball, volleyball, and tennis groups to sign letters of intent with specific hours and rates to locate to the proposed facility.  These letters of intent include larger regional institutions like Minnesota State University Mankato’s tennis team and Bethany Lutheran College’s tennis team.  As a result, the Caswell Sports Regional Bonding Request not only assists local programs, but also guarantees partnership between the community and higher education institutions by co-locating uses in the same facilities. Therefore, it is a terrific example of partnership between the state and local entities.     

Awarding the $12.75 million in state bonding appropriations responds to regional planning efforts, invests in a time proven existing statewide asset, addresses the demands of business leaders, resolves inequities in access to youth sporting facilities based on geography, and provides an asset that will be leveraged for decades for the prosperity of the region.  It can also address an equity issue by considering the average household income in the Mankato/North Mankato area is lower than other areas of the state.