Logo for the City of Wisconsin Rapids (Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Rapids)
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — A new sports complex in Wisconsin Rapids got its first step of approval in the new year.
The Wisconsin Rapids Public School District has proposed a new baseball and softball complex at the high school on South 16th Street. The complex would feature two fields each for baseball and softball along with stadium seating and press box facilities. Each diamond would have a field-turf infield and natural grass outfields. Other minor improvements like expanding the parking lots and adding lighting are being considered as well.
Monday afternoon the City of Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission met to discuss the project’s request for a conditional use permit and site plan. City staff recommended approving the District’s plan with a few conditions in place that include applying for applicable permits, submitting final renderings for approval, and submitting utility plans to the City.
Without input from the public, the Commission felt most comfortable approving the project’s conditional use permit and the first condition of the staff recommendation at this time. The approval of the conditional use permit will allow the project to move forward to the City Council for final approval.
Wisconsin Rapids Director of Community Development Kyle Kearns says the first condition, “Includes the conditional use permit shall only apply to those lands within the City of Wisconsin Rapids. However if annexation of adjacent property occurs prior to the construction of improvements, this permit the conditional use permit shall extend to those annexed lands as shown.”
Public hearings will be scheduled on the project for the City to hear feedback from the public regarding the proposed complex. Following the public hearings, the Planning Commission is likely to take up the project again when more materials are submitted.
The project is in its early stages with final renderings not yet completed. The price tag for the project currently sits at around $5 million, but some 80% of that has already been raised. School officials are hopeful that local business support can make up the final 20%.
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