Blaine builds year-round athletic complex

In response to unquenched demand for field time, construction is underway on a new $7 million, 38-acre athletic complex in northeast Blaine.

The Lexington Athletic Complex is one of the most ambitious park projects in the city's history. The complex, near the corner of Lexington Avenue and Woodland Parkway, will be used year-round, day and night, with the installation of field lighting. Work began during the summer and is expected to be completed by next fall.

"This will be the largest complex we've ever completed at one time," said Jerome Krieger, the city's park program supervisor. "With the amount of kids playing youth sports in this town, every single baseball field, soccer field and football field is being used constantly. We are still at a shortage."

Blaine is the epicenter of youth sports in the state. The city is also home to the state-owned National Sports Center on the city's west side, which is expanding to a total of 66 multipurpose playing fields, along with hockey rinks, a golf course and more.

The city bought the northeast farm field for $2 million in 2012 and is spending $5 million to construct sports fields, outdoor lighting, a building, playground, trails and 400-space parking lot. The money comes from park dedication fees paid by developers building in the area.

The complex will include:

• Two lighted, full-size baseball fields

• Two lighted tennis courts

• Four pickle ball courts

• One full-size basketball court

• Playground area that is ADA accessible with a picnic shelter

• Park building with meeting space, concession stand and warming house in the winter months

• Lighted trails throughout park

• As many as 175 trees.

Krieger said the work is about three-quarters done

He said the project is highly anticipated. Developers have been showing renderings of the park to prospective buyers. "A lot of people have walked through with their dogs, checking out what is going on."

The Lexington Athletic Complex is one of a series of park expansions in the north suburb. The city is also planning a 500-acre nature preserve with trails and eventually a nature center. The city already owns that land near the intersection of 109th Avenue NE. and Lexington Avenue NE. The first walking trails and a parking lot could be open by the fall of 2015. It will be the largest nature preserve in the city.