WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — More upgrades may be coming to Wausau’s Athletic Park in two years.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Committee has approved initial plans calling for an AstroTurf infield surface by 2024. City and County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director Jamie Polley says it’s part of the team’s plans to expand their franchise to include a summer collegiate softball team but will also benefit all users of the facility. “We will have the ability to open [Atheltic Park] a little earlier, depending on the weather,” said Polley. “We could also have more games on it per day and open it up to more of the youth [in the community.]”
The proposal has gotten positive feedback from all other users including Wausau Legion baseball. It would also allow Athletic Park to be the home stadium for the planned summer collegiate softball team and permit youth softball games to be played at the park.
Plans would include a removable pitching mound and patches for high-impact areas such as home plate and the areas around the bases. It also includes equipment to groom the turf, which would be required during the season. The typical life cycle of an AstroTurf facility is eight to ten years, but that can be extended to as many as 15 years with light use and regular maintenance.
Woodchucks owner Mark MacDonald told the committee that the softball team would operate in the same manner as the baseball team; comprised of college players who have eligibility remaining and are looking to get more meaningful innings in during the summer. Their season would start following the completion of the Division I Women’s College World Series and would consist of as many as 40 games (20 home/20 road). Players would also stay with host families in the area.
MacDonald also told the committee that the softball players may need to share clubhouse space with the baseball team during the first year, but the goal would be to have separate areas for both by year two.
Adding a softball team would also require adjustments in the user and development agreements between the franchise and the city. Those are expected to come up during Tuesday’s Economic Development Committee meeting and could include changes to the parking around the stadium, which has been an issue for decades.
Monday’s vote was 4-0 with Alder Tom Kilian absent. Alder Carol Lukens hesitated to send the proposal forward because she wanted more information on the environmental impact such as if the turf could cause additional PFAS to get into the city’s water supply. MacDonald and Woodchucks GM Ryan Treu noted that they brought that issue up with the manufacturer, who told them they do not use the forever chemicals in their process.
The turf proposal will now go to the full council at a later date.
