$2.4M Baseball Complex Planned for Former Schanen Farm

Fundraising efforts by Port Washington Youth Baseball & Softball will be kicked up a notch after city officials approved a plan that will allow the group to build a four-diamond baseball complex on the former Schanen Farm property.

The Port Washington Common Council approved the memorandum of understanding during its Tuesday night meeting. The memo includes a 50-year lease of the property at the corner of Jackson Road and Hwy. 33 to PWYBS for $1 per year, and also requires the group to cover all of the estimated $2.4 million construction costs.

PWYBS launched a with the long-term goal of such a complex in mind, and was able to raise a few thousand dollars, according to organization President Patrick Modjeski.

"That was our first year, so it was really successful … (but now we know) how to attack it better this year," Modjeski said. "Obviously that buys us a couple benches at a new field … but with our raffle — I think that’s something that will really grow and I think that will sell itself."

The entire tentative plan includes concessions, lighting and parking as well as four fields with various sizes to accomodate both baseball and softball standards. The agreement with the city gives the group five years to raise the funds; before any construction starts, the group must present final plans to the Plan Commission and Common Council for official approval.

The group plans to complete construction in phases, and hopes that the first and largest diamond will be completed in two years, according to the Ozaukee Press.

The Port Washington Youth Baseball and Softball leagues draw more than 500 kids between the ages of 4 and 14 each year, Modjeski said. Registration is already open for the coming season, with .