HUMBOLDT — A set of preliminary concept plans has been released for a new multi-use facility at Centennial Park that will serve the city’s ball community.
The Humboldt Ball Development Board released the plans on Feb. 3. The facility features two batting cages, a concession, washrooms, meeting rooms and storage for the city’s community and leisure services department.
“It’s been a long wait,” said Trent Ries, president of the board. “We've been waiting kind of patiently for the last year with this COVID and stuff kind of went a little sideways, but I think for the most part, I think we’re finally getting rolling.”
Michael Ulriksen, Humboldt’s community and leisure services director, said the city’s been working with the board for the last few years to come up with a new washroom/concession facility. The old facility was torn down last year to make way for improvements to the diamonds.
“They've jumped on the project. It's been awesome to be working with this group. They've gone out and started soliciting sponsorships, applying for grants, developing what they feel would be a suitable facility long term and spearheading this whole project,” he said.
“It's been exciting on our end and nice to see that they've kind of put a picture to their concept, and we're looking forward to seeing it come to fruition here in the next little while.”
The facility is expected to be placed north of the skate park, a place where it is easy to see all of the diamonds.
Ries said early estimates for the facility place the cost between $1 million and $1.3 million. Around one-third of the cost has been raised or committed.
The board president said the goal is to start work on at least part of the facility in the spring or summer. The goal to get the building up in two years.
“If we have a big player that wants to come on board, fund it and have naming rights to the building, we definitely will entertain that idea,” he said. “If they come with a big chunk of change, we can move forward a lot quicker and have it done a lot sooner.”
Some of the cost might also be borne by the city as it determines how it might share the facility with the board.
“We're in talks with the city quite regularly and trying to make sure that direction is going the right way and the funding is there to complete the project in the time that we're looking at so hopefully everything goes the right way and goes well,” Ries said.
Ulriksen said he understands the Humboldt Ball Development Board is interested in having the facility used all year, not just the summer.
The city is considering placing an outdoor skating rink/multi-use court near the facility. A final decision whether it will be there or in a different location has yet to be made. Ulriksen said whether or not the rink is located there, the city is definitely open to having some more recreation amenities around that facility.
Reis said the board is excited about the project.
“Hopefully 2021 is better than 2020 and we’ll go from there.”
