Dred Scott Playfield

Dred Scott Playfield is a 48.5-acre municipal athletic complex owned and operated by the City of Bloomington, Minnesota Parks and Recreation Department, located at 10820 Bloomington Ferry Road, Bloomington, MN 55438. The complex is a hub for baseball and softball, with ten softball fields and two baseball fields (Tony Oliva Field / Playfield #1 and Ken Swartz Field / Playfield #5), several of which are lighted for evening play. Beyond the diamonds, the park offers tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, soccer and football fields, outdoor basketball courts, playgrounds, seasonal restrooms, and off-street parking. Concessions operate out of the on-site Wheelhouse building, and the park is also home to two private concessions: Clutch Hitters batting cages (952-941-2455) and the Dinosaur Dred Scott miniature golf course (952-941-2444). Outside teams and organizations cannot simply claim a field on-site; field use is scheduled through the City of Bloomington's Outdoor Athletic Facility Rental process, which requires a permit issued by the Parks and Recreation Department. The department begins accepting requests each spring, reviews them according to the City's Athletic Field Use Policy, and issues signed permits with payment before play. It is a widely used venue for local leagues, tournaments, and adult and youth softball.