The Wake

We’re into February now, and spring is on the horizon. Soon, the snow will begin to melt and it will be time to pull the baseball mitts and footballs out of the closet for some recreational outdoor sporting action. Unfortunately, with the constant building and construction that has consumed this gigantic campus, it can be difficult to find a nice grassy field to set up shop and toss a ball around with your friends. However, during my three-and-a-half years at this school, I’ve managed to stake out some pretty good spots. Here, for your consideration, are my top four favorites (complete with horribly arbitrary names that I invented myself):

CAVEMAN FIELD – Oak St. and Washington Ave.
Located just outside of McNamara Alumni Center, this grassy and tree-filled area is a classic spot for throwing around a football or a Frisbee. Because of the area’s high visibility, the University does a good job of keeping this area looking nice. You’ll have many spectators, as the field is located right along the well-traveled Scholars Walk pathway. The field’s name stems from a relatively unknown game that originated there called Caveball, which involves hitting a ball made of tape with a large plastic bat shaped like a caveman’s club.

THE MUD GROUNDS – behind Bierman Athletic Complex
The Intramural Sports program uses this field for many purposes, likely because it is the probably the largest area of outdoor recreational space on campus. There are numerous baseball/softball fields here, and it is also a sufficiently spacious location for getting a football or soccer game going. Unfortunately, due to its high usage, there is almost no grass on this field; instead it is basically just a giant patch of dirt. Be careful about using this field on a wet day, as it can become very muddy.

RIVERSIDE PARK – off the East River Road near Coffman Union
If you walk down the long set of stairs on the south side of Coffman Union and cross East River Road, you will find a very large grassy area alongside the Mississippi River. This field is great for any type of activity, and the view is very scenic.

WEST SIDE STADIUM – just north of Walter F. Mondale Hall
If you are a resident of the West Bank, this is most certainly your best bet. Surrounded on all sides by fences, this area includes baseball fields and plenty of space for football, soccer or rugby. Who knows, perhaps some residents of the adjacent Riverview high-rise apartment complex will look down from their windows and provide you with an audience (although that is unlikely, and perhaps even physically impossible).