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Board approves planning for on‑campus baseball/softball hitting facility; boosters eye donations
Summary
Community volunteers and coaches won board permission to begin planning a proposed on‑campus hitting facility for the district's baseball and softball programs; organizers said much of the project would be funded by donations and in‑kind support.
The Middleton School Board voted to allow a community group to begin planning for an on‑campus baseball and softball hitting facility, after a presentation by a group of parents, coaches and volunteers.
Andy (first name only in the record) asked the board for permission to begin an initial planning phase; coaches who spoke included Coach Slider (head baseball coach), Coach Karanzius (head softball coach) and Coach Asby (assistant softball coach). The coaches said the district currently rents indoor practice space at a cost they estimated at $200–$300 per session and that an on‑campus facility would expand year‑round training, reduce rental costs and support fundraising through camps and rentals.
Organizers showed a site plan for a space adjacent to existing baseball and softball fields and said the footprint would not displace current field‑event areas. They described a potential pre‑fabricated “shed” structure and said a donor opportunity exists for a prebuilt structure at a substantially reduced cost. They also said they have started early outreach with the City of Middleton’s design review process and will pursue required permits.
The board passed a motion authorizing organizers to begin planning and to pursue design review with city officials; the formal motion text approved by the board was: “approve the proposal to initiate the planning phase for the baseball softball hitting facility.” The motion passed on a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.
What organizers said: Coach Slider said the facility would help the high school compete with larger programs and “allow year‑round training that puts them on that level playing field.” Coach Karanzius described recurring rental costs as a financial strain and said a home facility would permit more frequent practice and program fundraising like winter camps.
Next steps: organizers said they will assemble a detailed plan and cost estimate in the coming months, continue coordination with city planning staff and return to the board with specific design, cost and funding information for any required approvals.
