Marion ballfield plan finds Linn supervisor support

They're not ready to build it, yet, but Linn County supervisors were an enthusiastic audience Wednesday for a proposal for a baseball/softball complex on county-owned land north of Marion.

"I see this as a great benefit to Linn County and to the state," District 3 Supervisor Ben Rogers, D-Cedar Rapids, said after Jack Roeder presented non-profit Prospect Meadows Ball Fields' proposal. "You really couldn't lay this out any better."

Roeder, a Prospect Meadows director and the Cedar Rapids Kernels' former general manager, formally delivered the results of a $20,000 county-funded feasibility study. The study by Cedar Falls-based consultants ME&V found strong public support for the project, a $9.4 million, 17-field complex southeast of the Highway 13-County Home Road intersection.

The county's role: Donating the 120 acres south of the Abbe Center complex.

"Ideally, a donation of the land would be great," said Roeder.

Supervisors agreed to have the county's legal staff investigate a donation or long-term lease of the site. Meanwhile, they'll take steps to officially notify the farmer now leasing the property that it may not be available next spring, when Prospect Meadows hopes to begin work in time for a 2013 opening.

"However the land donation takes place, let's play ball on that," said District 4 Supervisor Brent Oleson, R-Marion. "We don't have anything like this on this side of the state. It's going to be huge."

"We've had the land for such a long time," said District 1 Supervisor Lu Barron, D-Cedar Rapids. "It's such a great use of this property."

District 2 Supervisor Linda Langston expects the complex will draw commercial development to serve the crowds it will draw.

"This is really going to spur us to look at things we need to do to be better prepared, and to partner with the city of Marion," said Langston, D-Cedar Rapids.

Roeder said Prospect Meadows will launch a public fundraising campaign and seek grants from the state and foundations to fund the project. A property donation by the county would be considered in-kind support that could help attract grants, he said.

The Prospect Meadows facility would include eight fields each for softball and baseball, 1,200 parking spaces, administrative offices, concessions and souvenir stands in a park-like setting including trails, a playground, and a pond.

Two "premier fields" would include stadium-style seating for the final rounds of the three-dozen-odd tournaments Prospect Meadows supporters hope to schedule each season. Eight of the fields who have lighting for night play.

The complex would include a "miracle field" adapted for use by players with disabilities or special needs.

The study estimates 120,000 people would participate in those events as players, spectators, or family members, with half coming from outside the area, Roeder said. They'd spend about $25 million a year, enough to fund the facility's operation with revenues left over going to other local non-profits.

Prospect Meadows would employ six to 10 full-time, with up to 200 during the season, Roeder said.

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