Baran Park Project Update
We are wrapping up our activities this week (November 22, 2019) and will be demobilized until the spring.
We have managed to get the project to a point where we feel like the spring mobilization will be productive. Prior to locking the gate until spring, we poured the concrete sidewalks completely between all the backstops and worked our way out the project stopping at the double gates to the outfields of the baseball fields. This will allow us access into the fields in the spring with grading equipment without damaging our work and it will allow us to complete the final grading of the perimeter swales.
We are completing the fencing in the dugouts and the backstops but are not installing the netting to the backstops until spring to prevent any damage to the netting by the winter weather. All foul poles are complete, the electrical is ready for a last inspection on Monday that will complete our work until We Energies installs their transformer and runs their lines to the power center.
All of the turf infields are installed with the sand/rubber infill. We will need to dress up the infields with some infill in the spring and assure that the planarity of the turf is perfect. Bleachers, handicap emblems painted and the team benches are installed. All three scoreboards are installed and ready to be fired up in the spring once power is available. As well, the portable pitcher mounds, bases and some attic stock turf have been turned over to Journey House.
In the spring, asides from the netting and a small amount of sidewalk, we will be totally focused on the site work, final grading, irrigation, sod, bioretention ponds and final site stabilization.
It is a bitter sweet feeling that we are leaving Milwaukee without the completion of the project. I was certainly optimistic when we started the project that warmer drier weather might prevail this early winter but….Mother Nature has other plans for us!!!! Until Spring, Milwaukee we will miss you and look forward to returning to put the wraps on another successful project.
We have managed to get the project to a point where we feel like the spring mobilization will be productive. Prior to locking the gate until spring, we poured the concrete sidewalks completely between all the backstops and worked our way out the project stopping at the double gates to the outfields of the baseball fields. This will allow us access into the fields in the spring with grading equipment without damaging our work and it will allow us to complete the final grading of the perimeter swales.
We are completing the fencing in the dugouts and the backstops but are not installing the netting to the backstops until spring to prevent any damage to the netting by the winter weather. All foul poles are complete, the electrical is ready for a last inspection on Monday that will complete our work until We Energies installs their transformer and runs their lines to the power center.
All of the turf infields are installed with the sand/rubber infill. We will need to dress up the infields with some infill in the spring and assure that the planarity of the turf is perfect. Bleachers, handicap emblems painted and the team benches are installed. All three scoreboards are installed and ready to be fired up in the spring once power is available. As well, the portable pitcher mounds, bases and some attic stock turf have been turned over to Journey House.
In the spring, asides from the netting and a small amount of sidewalk, we will be totally focused on the site work, final grading, irrigation, sod, bioretention ponds and final site stabilization.
It is a bitter sweet feeling that we are leaving Milwaukee without the completion of the project. I was certainly optimistic when we started the project that warmer drier weather might prevail this early winter but….Mother Nature has other plans for us!!!! Until Spring, Milwaukee we will miss you and look forward to returning to put the wraps on another successful project.
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2018 In the News
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Milwaukee’s south side now home to Major League-quality baseball field
WDJT58 - September 20, 2018 |
Pride and joy' in local youth field makeover
MLB - September 21, 2018 |
MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS PARTNERS WITH JOURNEY HOUSE FOR FIELD RENOVATION OF BARAN PARK
Journey House is excited to grow their partnership with Milwaukee County Parks to launch a new renovation of Felix Mantilla Little League Fields at Baran Park. The enhancement of the fields will make the playing diamonds safer for urban youth, attract more people to Baran Park, and create a new destination for Milwaukee County.
This summer Journey House will break ground on the high school field with the investments of Major League Baseball and Scotts. A new high quality grass field will be installed to include storm water management, drainage systems, and irrigation. Journey House will also install 3 Little League fields with synthetic infields and natural grass outfields and 1 natural grass Tee Ball Diamond. The fields will have field lights and dugouts. Other investors in this multi-million investment include the Brewers Community Foundation, Cal Ripken Foundation, Wendy and Craig Kasten, Majerus Family Foundation, and Zilber Family Foundation, and many other generous individuals.
“At Journey House, we believe that athletic fields are our outdoor classroom. We are honored to partner with Milwaukee County and Supervisor Dimitrijevic in the renovation of our Felix Mantilla Little League Fields at Milwaukee County Baran Park, which has been the league’s home field since 1972,” said Dr. Michele Bria, CEO of Journey House. “We are excited about all the possibilities and opportunities that will happen for our Scholar Athletes, families, and neighborhood residents with the redevelopment of our baseball fields. It will be truly catalytic.”
Journey House is excited to grow their partnership with Milwaukee County Parks to launch a new renovation of Felix Mantilla Little League Fields at Baran Park. The enhancement of the fields will make the playing diamonds safer for urban youth, attract more people to Baran Park, and create a new destination for Milwaukee County.
This summer Journey House will break ground on the high school field with the investments of Major League Baseball and Scotts. A new high quality grass field will be installed to include storm water management, drainage systems, and irrigation. Journey House will also install 3 Little League fields with synthetic infields and natural grass outfields and 1 natural grass Tee Ball Diamond. The fields will have field lights and dugouts. Other investors in this multi-million investment include the Brewers Community Foundation, Cal Ripken Foundation, Wendy and Craig Kasten, Majerus Family Foundation, and Zilber Family Foundation, and many other generous individuals.
“At Journey House, we believe that athletic fields are our outdoor classroom. We are honored to partner with Milwaukee County and Supervisor Dimitrijevic in the renovation of our Felix Mantilla Little League Fields at Milwaukee County Baran Park, which has been the league’s home field since 1972,” said Dr. Michele Bria, CEO of Journey House. “We are excited about all the possibilities and opportunities that will happen for our Scholar Athletes, families, and neighborhood residents with the redevelopment of our baseball fields. It will be truly catalytic.”
Journey House Felix Mantilla Little League Fields @ Baran Park Enhancements Project Goal
Take a dilapidated urban baseball playing infrastructure and transform it into a beautiful neighborhood ANCHOR and CATALYST for continued development of URBAN YOUTH Scholar Athletes. $2.8 MM private investment (100% raised by Journey House) to install synthetic infield turf with natural grass outfields in 3 Little League and 1 High School Diamond, renovation of Tee Ball Diamond, security fencing, field lighting, dug-outs, and enhanced storm water management system.
Current Field Conditions
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Proposed Enhancements
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Enhancements Include (see proposed site plan to right):
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Journey House is Increasing and Enhancing Public Access
Safer for Urban Youth, Attracts More People, New Milwaukee County Destination
- All Journey House athletics are open to any youth throughout Milwaukee County.
- Registration Fee Scholarships available for financial hardship. No youth turned away. Least expensive Little League in Wisconsin to ensure accessibility to all urban youth interested in the game of baseball.
- Free admission to all Felix Mantilla Little League games.
- Public Access consistent with current usage of Baran Park Fields (via rental reservations).
- Open during all JH FMLL practices, games, and tournaments (anticipate 7 days a week for 44+ hours per week).
- Current FMLL Roster: 320+ urban youth and over 1,200 fans on Saturday Game Days (throughout the day/evening).
Priority Usage of Journey House Felix Mantilla Little League Fields
Model: JH Packers Football Stadium Daily Rental Rates, Terms, & Rules of Use Agreement 2017
Priority Users:
- Journey House Felix Mantilla Little League Scholar Athletes
- Journey House Youth Scholar Athletes (all sports)
- Journey House Youth Participants
- Journey House Parents, Adult Participants, and Families
- Long-term, Multi-Year Rental Organizations and Community Partners
- Return Organizations/Community Partners Requesting the Same Dates/Times as Previous Year
- New Renters who are Community Partners, which is defined as groups and/or entities that have a contractual partnership or reciprocal relationship with Journey House, Inc. For a list of Journey House Community Partners, please visit: http://www.journeyhouse.org/who.html.
- New Renters/Groups/Organizations
Catalytic Economic Development Impact of an Activated Baran Park increases Quality of Life for Milwaukee County
- Beautifies the Neighborhood with World Class Fields that are safe for practice and game play.
- Increases public safety with active park and significant investment of resources via Journey House to provide high quality stewardship.
- Increases economic development, especially in adjacent Bay View Neighborhood (1 mile to Kinnickinnic Avenue); 2.5 miles to South Shore Beach; 3 miles from downtown’s new Bucks Arena, Northwestern Mutual Corporate & Apartment Towers, and other assets.
- Increases bike-able and walk-able community.
- Increased homeownership, business development, and attraction of greater investments by entrepreneurs and real estate developers.
