Hey, sports fans and park loungers, mark your calendars for March 21. The Diamond Sports Facilities Study Technical Advisory Committee is gearing up for meeting number nine, and you bet it's gonna be a doozy. The get-together is slated from 5-6:30 pm at Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters, right at 2117 West River Road. The previously planned pow-wow was a no-go, so they've set this new date for the next huddle.

For those of you out of the loop, this gang of diamond sports whizzes is knee-deep in a major study that's gonna lay down the law on how to polish up our city's sports facilities. We're talking about everything from making sure the fields are as neat as a pin to figuring out who gets to play ball and when. Plus, they're hashing out all those pesky details about permits for recreational use and where to throw these facilities across our urban landscape. And let's not forget the moolah—these folks will be diving into implementation plans, which include sorting out the dough and timelines to get from blueprints to basepaths.

It's the first crack at this kind of inspection across the Minneapolis park system, with this crew planning to aim for field sports, court sports, and even winter sports, in that order, once they've rounded the bases on diamond sports.

The team at the Parks & Rec are looking to nail down some standards here that will play a big part in how these spaces serve up fun and games for everyone. According to details from their bulletin, they've got their eyes on the prize—making sure the experience at these facilities ain't just good, but knock-your-socks-off great. So if you've ever griped about a rut in the infield or a permit snafu, now's the time to see the grand plan.

Word to the wise: If you're one of those die-hards keen on keeping abreast of the local sports scene, then you'll want to stick your nose into this confab. March 21st folks, don't say we didn't give you a heads-up.