Proposal For Frame Park Baseball Stadium Drawing Criticism

WAUKESHA, WI — A proposal to develop Waukesha's Frame Park baseball field into a for-profit baseball stadium is drawing opposition from those who say the land should stay open to the public.

A proposal by Big Top Baseball, a group that runs several Northwoods League summer baseball teams, including the Kenosha Kingfish and Madison Mallards, is calling for the development of a $4.5 million ballpark complete with stands, concession, a video board and other features at an existing Frame Park baseball diamond. According to meeting documents, Big Top Baseball said it would commit $500,000 in capital up-front, and provide a $150,000 annual lease payment and $25,000 in annual monies to improve Frame Park outside the stadium per year.

Carroll University, Waukehsa North High School and Waukesha South High School would all continue to play at the facility, according to official documents. City events such as National Night Out and Fiesta Waukesha would also continue to use the park, documents stipulated.

But opponents to the development say that large parts of Frame Park were deeded to the city in 1926 by Andrew J. Frame, who gave condition that the land be used as a "public park only."

"A baseball stadium can be built anywhere in the City of Waukesha on over 300 acres of public park land. However, this for-profit business wants it on the best real estate with the highest value in the city of Waukesha. Why not, they are renters," Save Frame Park stated online.

The group is purusing a declaratory judgement from the courts that the deed to the city stipulates public use only.

By extention, the city would not be able to turn over control of the field to developers.

Sandy Hamm, Waukesha resident and owner of APNewsfinder, said he has been going to Frame Park all his life and says its the jewel of the city. "I'm opposed to it, and I've read the contract," he told Waukesha Patch. He posted the contract on his site, Watching Waukesha, for the public to view.

Hamm told Patch that after reviewing the contract he has numerous concerns, primarily stemming from his observation that the contract was written to benefit the developer. "In my opinion, this contract has been written by Northwoods in their favor, and the city administration and a few aldermen in favor of it simply took it as it is."

Related Reading:

Public Park Management Contract City of Waukesha – Big Top Waukesha Stadium Manager, LLC

Follow the link to read the proposed contract between the City of Waukesha and Big Top Baseball, as provided by Watching Waukesha.

At 7 p.m. a public information meeting will be held in the City Council chambers in City Hall regarding the Frame Park Baseball Field Enhancement Public/Private partnership and also the Whiterock Redevelopment Area proposal.

Image Via Google Street Map