The Manitowoc Youth Baseball/Softball Association broke ground for a new sports complex at Citizen Park during a special ceremony Wednesday.

“This is what makes a community, when you see community partners come together to fill a need and make a dream become a reality,” Mayor Justin Nickels said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new complex, which will be named Manitowoc Company Youth Sports Complex, will contain four fields for baseball and softball games, along with concession stands, dugouts and other amenities. It will be the newest addition to the park, which already plays host to the Aquatic Center, a mini-golf course, and tennis and basketball courts

“Families are going to be able to enjoy this park for long after all of us are here,” Nickels said. “A great community builds things, not just for the children of today, but for the children of tomorrow. There will be children playing here who won’t remember any of our names or anything that happened here today, but they will be enjoying these fields because of what you all did.”

MYBA President and Treasurer Randy Heinzen said he and other volunteers have been fundraising and planning for the new sports complex for more than three years. To date, they have raised $1.4 million, only $400,000 short of their goal to build the complex.

“What is amazing to me, is time after time after time, how this community comes together to fulfill needs and make things happen,” Heinzen said. “From many of the significant donors who I introduced a little while ago, to the other donors who are here today, to a woman who back in January sent us a $5 check with the memo stating, ‘I wish it could be more,’ we thank you.”

The new complex will be built where the current baseball diamond is at Citizen Park, and construction is slated to start in early August. The current diamond will be relocated to Dewey Park. Two softball fields are also at Citizen Park, but Heinzen said they will remain where they are.

“We know, for that $1.4 million, we are playing ball here next year,” he said.

Although their current funds are enough to start construction, Heinzen said the MYBA still needs to raise the remaining $400,000 so they can include safe dugout areas for the teams and purchase a lighting system for the new fields.

Heinzen said an average of 400 youth are involved with the MYBA. The association is building the new complex so they have enough space to host all the teams in one park. He said they also hope to host tournaments in the complex, which would bring more than $30,000 in revenue to the city, according to an economic survey the MYBA conducted.

Nolan McClelland, an 8-year-old baseball player, said he is excited for the new sports complex and for the extra space to play in.

The complex is being named after The Manitowoc Company, a multi-industry capital goods manufacturer based in Manitowoc, after they contributed a significant amount of money toward building the complex. Tom Musial, senior vice president for The Manitowoc Company, said he feels honored to have the new sports complex named after the business.

“This one was a special project for us,” he said. “Obviously, it’s an undertaking that is very difficult; particularly in difficult economic times.”

He was asked to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony, where he talked about opportunities for local children.

“Your obligation and your accountability that we would look for in this is that you make sure you create a safe and a fun opportunity for these kids,” Musial said. “I was interested in a comment made about how some of these kids, when you have a draft for them, and you give them that opportunity. Let’s create opportunities for these kids. We realize they come in with different skills and different abilities, but they also grow and have fun, and it’s a team event.”

Former MYBA presidents Gary Novak and Gary Heim, who was one of the founders of the MYBA, also spoke at the groundbreaking. Nickels and representatives from The Manitowoc Company, Community First Credit Union, Subway, Investors Community Bank, Jagemann Plating Company, Fox Communities Credit Union, Jagemann Stamping, Festival Foods and UnitedOne Credit Union were recognized for their sponsorship for the complex and took part in the groundbreaking.

 

Source : htrnews.com

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