Detroit Lakes Reps to Present Washington Ballpark Renovation Plans to Senate Finance Committee

Rendering of Washington Ballpark renovation

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Representatives from the city of Detroit Lakes have been invited to present their plans to renovate Washington Ballpark to the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee.

A group from Detroit Lakes will meet with the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, the House Finance Committee visited the ballpark in September. Terry Eiter says the additional interest is a good sign, “It doesn’t guarantee us anything, but if you’re not getting noticed by those two committees that’s probably a bad sign. One came to visit us and the other has invited us to come down and present more information is a positive sign, so we’re looking forward to visiting them next Wednesday.”

The City is hoping to secure $1.172 million in funding through the State bonding bill towards a $2.34 million project for renovations at Washington Ballpark that would include refurbishing the wood siding and spectator benches, addressing ADA accessibility, improving dugouts, adding a warning track and removing a storm sewer manhole that is in the outfield.

The city has committed $463,000 to the project with another $400,000 possibly on the way. An additional $309,000 would need to be fundraised.

The legislative session is scheduled to wrap up by the end of May – if the project is approved construction is tentatively set to begin in August of 2022 with a completion date of May, 2023.