March 3, 2021 – West Bend, Wi – It was August 2018 when a final celebration took place as a groundbreaking would kickoff a major renovation at Carl M. Kuss Field in West Bend.
The project included a new grandstand, restrooms, concessions and the addition of a turf field, new lighting and dugouts.
Funding for the project was initiated by a $500,000 matching grant from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation along with a matching grant from the public and private sector in West Bend including the West Bend Baseball Association.
Then things went sideways.
Funding from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation fell apart, there were some fits and starts and after two years leaders from the West Bend Baseball Association took the ball (pun intended) and it now appears they’ve hit a homerun. (another intentional pun)
“There’s still a passion for baseball and a passion for Regner Park,” said WBBA member Kraig Sadownikow. “Thanks to Craig Larsen, Prudence Pick Hway and others we’ve raised close to $1.5 million for a pretty exciting project.”
On Wednesday afternoon, March 3, 2021, nearly three years after the project began, organizers saw a light at the end of the fundraising tunnel. There is still about $350,000 needed to finish the project.
Organizers feel once the project is underway more people would be inspired to donate to help see the updated field come to fruition.
Prudence Pick Hway said the goal was playing ball in West Bend.
H&H Civil Construction from Collins, WI will be doing the work along with J.W. Industries out of Green Bay.
Construction is expected to get underway Monday, March 8. “We’d like to have the field ready for the start of the 2021 season,” said Pick Hway.
The infield will be made up of a synthetic turf with plans to install turf in the outfield as funds become available.
Updates will be completed in phases with the infield and new 521 person grandstand constructed first.
Phase 2 would include field lights and storage and Phase 3 would refurbish the restrooms.
Pick Hway, a longtime supporter of the WBBA, said it was a “bittersweet moment.”
Pick Hway’s family has strong ties to baseball and Carl M. Kuss Field that go back to when the grandstand was first located at the Washington County Fairgrounds.
“My grandfather Carl Pick was a big supporter of baseball and he paid to have the grandstand moved, disassembled and reassembled from the Fairgrounds to where it is today at Regner Park,” Pick Hway said.
Work to level the grandstand is expected to start this week.
