existing Recreation Facilities:

7  - ball fields (3 of which Waukee will likely lose in 2008)

0  - Soccer game fields

0  - Outdoor Basketball

3  - Sand Volleyball Courts

2  - Tennis courts

Girls Softball.  In 2006, Waukee has 39 girls recreational softball teams (almost 400 players) and 8 ASA competitive softball teams (almost 100 players) all from the Waukee Community School District.  The ASA program has turned girls away solely based on the lack of facilities. The 8 ASA teams have only 1 field to play on, which is the Waukee Elementary field.  This field is the old Waukee varsity softball field: it has no lights, no outfield fence and has not been maintained or updated in well over 25 years.  There is no guarantee that this field will in the long term be accessible for this program, which would leave the competitive youth girls softball program in Waukee with no place to practice.  There are NO game fields in Waukee for girls softball. To support the both girls program and allow it to grow to the necessary 4A level, there is a need for a minimum of 4 softball fields (ideally 6 or 8 fields). The current recreational and competitive girls softball programs are expected to grow significantly in the next five to ten years.

Youth Baseball.  Baseball leagues use fields at the Walnut Creek Little League.  In 2006, it is estimated that there are 120 teams trying to use seven ball fields.  Of great concern is the fact that it is likely walnut creek little league will lose the lease for three of those fields in 2008.   

Adult Co-ed Softball.  The Parks and Recreation Department currently uses two of the baseball fields for Coed Softball Leagues.  In 2005, Waukee had to limit the number of teams who could participate to 16.  Parks & Recreation is turning away several teams every year.  Because these adult rec softball games are being played on high school regulation sized girls softball fields (Not slow pitch sized fields), waukee cannot compete with Clive, West Des Moines and Urbandale.  Consequently, there are a lot of Waukee residents playing in those leagues. 

Soccer.  Waukee has fields for soccer practice in 3 parks.  None of these fields can be used for games because of uneven ground and space limitations.  The Waukee Soccer Club which includes recreational soccer and the vision soccer academy currently manages the soccer program for waukee.  They are currently leasing 27 acres west of Waukee -  20 acres are used for soccer and the other 7 are used for parking and other open spaces.  The soccer club estimates that they would need 40 acres in order to have enough fields for all of their participants.  The Waukee Soccer club currently has almost 1,000 participants and that number will grow to more than 1,100 in the Fall of 2007, and 1,680 by the Fall of 2010. 

Sand Volleyball Courts.  The Parks and Recreation Department is only offering adult coed sand volleyball once a week in the summer.  Surrounding communities have proven with more courts, this activity could be offered for league use seven days a week in the summer. 

Tennis Courts.  The Waukee School District cannot field a tennis team without having 6 tennis courts - there are only two and they are seriously in need of repair.  The Waukee students who are interested in the sport currently travel to Urbandale to play.  There is a large interest for tennis in the community. In 2006, Waukee replaced the nets and repaired some of the major cracks in the two tennis courts to make them safe.   

Basketball Courts.  The City of Waukee currently has one area for basketball which includes four hoops on one playing surface.  The Parks and Recreation Department has had numerous requests to put outdoor basketball courts in our parks.

Youth Football.  Youth football serves Players from 3rd thru 6th grade. with the amount of interest in youth football, they are in need of additional space. The numbers have doubled in two years since the league began. There were 90 particapants in 2005 and 190 in 2006. It is anticipated they will double again in 2007 bringing total participants to more than 300 players. They currently utilize the High School Facilities for practice and Games and are only able to play games on Sunday afternoons. If they had a facility similar to ankeny's, they could meet the needs of their players and even host a tournament. By hosting a tournament, they will fulfill a need in central Iowa , bring revenues to Waukee and help young athletes get the experience needed to compete in the CIML.

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