Update: Plymouth City Council Approves Site Plan for Oakwood Expansion
The city of Plymouth met with Wayzata Schools this week to talk about the Oakwood Elementary School expansion this week. The council approved the permit and site plan for the expansion.
New Parking Lot Could Replace Plymouth Ballfield
Increased enrollment in Wayzata Area Schools means some tough decisions when it comes to expansion.
The city of Plymouth is considering whether to approve an addition to Oakwood Elementary School. The Wayzata School District expansion project would increase capacity for early learning programs, which are currently full and projected to grow. The proposal would allow for a 44,000-square-foot building addition for a two-story Wayzata Early Learning School and offices, plus a new gymnasium and parking expansion at Oakwood Elementary School.
However, the 400-plus space parking lot would require the elimination of a mid-sized ballfield.
Local soccer, baseball, softball and football organizations have written letters to city council members against the elimination of that ballfield. A representative from the Plymouth Wayzata Youth Baseball Association (PWYBA) says there’s a shortage of mid-sized fields and the one that would be eliminated is their marquee field.
“We’d have nowhere for our kids to play for that age group. We’ll have to play away games and rent space from Medina or Corcoran,” said Joe Fusaro, PWYBA president.
Fusaro spoke at a recent city council meeting informing council members that the nonprofit had invested $30,000 into the field just this year. He says the organization had no idea the field was being considered for elimination.
“Thirty thousand to a nonprofit is a lot of money. It’s just a waste.”
The city of Plymouth is also concerned that the money they’ve poured into the fields by way of lighting and other improvements could also be a waste. The city says they’ve invested more than $1 million into the facility. The city operates the facility under a joint powers agreement with Wayzata Schools. The agreement is set to expire in 2020.
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