MORRISVILLE - Residents got a chance to weigh in on proposed plans for the 25-acre RTP Park, and cricket grounds topped the lists of wants.

Preliminary plans for the park include a walking trail, greenway, three tennis courts, playground and one multipurpose field that could host a full-size cricket field or convert into soccer and softball fields.

About a dozen cricket players and aficionados turned out to support Morrisville's plans to build a full-size regulation cricket field.

"If you look around there are very minimal cricket facilities," said Ketan "Lats" Shah, a player on the Carolina ANZACs team.

Morrisville Shiloh park isn't big enough to fit a traditional game, and there are not the usual amenities found in other big cities such as Atlanta or Washington, Shah said. He would like to see the town add practice fields, shower facilities and lockers.

"I think considering the amount of the immigrant population in this area it's a great opportunity for Morrisville to be the first town in this area to actually start a park that can facilitate cricket as one of its sports," said Shah, of Cary.

Although he lives in Cary, Shah said it was important to support Morrisville's plans for the cricket grounds at Thursday's public hearing.

"Even if I lived in Wake Forest I would come out and support this. It's not where I live," Shah said. "It's about what I want to happen (for cricket) and grow into. Hopefully someday all towns will get into this and think, 'Look what Morrisville did. Maybe we should try to replicate that.' "

Cricket has gained popularity in Morrisville in the past decade with the number of Asian-American families relocating to the area.

Since 2000, the number of Asian-Americans in Morrisville has grown from 9 percent to 27 percent, according to the U.S. Census.

Several years ago, because of demand from residents, Morrisville created a youth cricket league.

In the past few years, the town's youth program has grown from about 50 kids playing one season to 150 players and three seasons.

There are several fields in the area, including Durham and Raleigh, used for cricket, but the nearest regulation cricket ground is in Winterville, according to the Triangle Cricket League's website.

"There is plenty of infrastructure for the other sports," said Morrisville resident Satbir Minhas. "The main thing is to have dedicated use of the grounds for cricket."

Construction of two new baseball and softball fields is expected to begin this winter at Cedar Fork Community Center and be completed in the summer of 2012.

Rupali and Anirudh Ullal, are both avid cricket fans. Rupali Ullal currently plays and his wife used to play. Both said adding the cricket grounds would add to Morrisville's coffers.

"If we have good facilities here, we can have people from all over the world come," she said. "And, that would bring more revenue."

Cricket wasn't the only amenity on residents' minds for the park on the intersection of McCrimmon Parkway and Church Street.

Janessa and Daniel Calderon loved the idea of the greenway but said they wanted basketball courts and outdoor grills added to the plans.

"I like that it's going to connect to the greenway," Janessa Calderon said. "I hate walking on the treadmill. The greenway system that's planned will be very effective for people that want to exercise and want to get out in the community."

To give input or view the proposed design of RTP Park visit the parks and recreation tab on the town of Morrisville's website at www.ci.morris ville.nc.us .