Rotary Club presents plan for Miracle League field, seeks city partnership and long-term lease

The Madison West–Middleton Rotary Club asked the Verona Common Council on April 28 to allow club leaders and Miracle League of Dane County representatives to work with city staff on a potential long-term lease and development plan for an accessible Miracle League baseball field at the Hemlock Street fields.

The Rotary presenters said they are not asking the council for a decision tonight but want the chance to “test the waters” and work with staff on a plan. “We would like to enter into a long term lease with the city of Verona for specific land,” a Rotary club representative said, asking staff member Jamie to provide details of potential parcels.

The Miracle League’s builder and longtime program leader, Greg Sweeney, described the league’s mission and experience in Dane County and urged council members to visit the existing facility in Cottage Grove. “It’s time to let everyone play,” Sweeney said, recounting how the Miracle League’s rubberized, wheelchair‑accessible diamond and buddy program let children with physical and cognitive disabilities participate in baseball.

Why it matters: Miracle League fields are specialized facilities intended to let children who use wheelchairs, walkers or other assistive devices play baseball and to create community programming for families and volunteers. The Rotary representatives said they would fundraise the facility cost entirely through donations, sponsorships and grants, and estimated that building a Verona field would require “probably north between $2.5 and $3 million.” They proposed a roughly two‑year development timeline if the city and partners moved forward.

Council members asked about costs, ongoing maintenance and program operations. Alder Helmke asked how the Rotary planned to cover ongoing costs; a Rotary representative said the club intends to build a comprehensive financial model describing initial capital, long‑term maintenance and roles for the Rotary Club, business partners and the city. “We will build a comprehensive financial model to deal with both the initial investment and then the ongoing maintenance,” the Rotary presenter said.

Other council members asked whether the Cottage Grove agreement would be copied or adapted. Rotary leaders said they view the Cottage Grove relationship as a model but expect details to differ and to be worked out with city staff. The presenters named Findorff (spelled in the packet as Findorff/Findorff) as the expected contractor to build the synthetic, rubber‑surface field; presenters said Greg Sweeney previously worked with Findorff on construction in Cottage Grove.

Council procedure: City attorney and mayoral staff reminded the Rotary group that the item was listed for presentation only and that the council could not take action because the item had not been properly noticed for possible action. The Rotary group said they were seeking permission to continue staff discussions, not a vote, and council members signaled their interest in continued conversations.

Next steps: Rotary leaders asked to work with city staff (Jamie) on legal, neighborhood and site issues and to report back. City staff and the Rotary will continue technical discussions; any formal lease, development agreement, or cost‑sharing proposal would return to the council as a noticed action item.

Ending: Presenters encouraged council members to visit Cottage Grove’s Miracle League site to see the field and programming in operation. Several council members praised the concept and expressed support for further study.