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Residents, Moose Lake Buzz ask council to designate century-old ball field for baseball use
Summary
Community members told the council the old school baseball field has hosted baseball for more than 125 years and asked the city to formally dedicate it for continued baseball use; proponents offered historical records, volunteer fundraising plans and urged a locally controlled resolution rather than federal designation.
A group of residents and local baseball organizers urged the Moose Lake City Council on July 8 to designate the old school baseball field as a historic site reserved for baseball, presenting archival research and proposals for fundraising and long-term maintenance.
"We're asking that the old baseball field be dedicated as a historical site used for baseball," said the presenter (identified in the meeting packet as the lead proponent), who said research found records of organized play dating back to about 1900 and that the field has been used for "over a 125" years. Spencer Clough, president of the Moose Lake Buzz, said the field is heavily used today: "Roughly on any given year, 70 to 85 players" participate in summer programs and "about 200 to 250" youth play through little-league programs, supported by nearly 40 local sponsors.
Proponents showed photographs and newspaper excerpts compiled with help from the local historical society and described features — including historic wooden stadium seating and a fence — that, they said, demonstrate long-term community investment in the field.
City staff and council members discussed process options. A staff representative said a local council resolution could dedicate the field for baseball and keep control at the city level, while federal or state historic designation could remove some local control. A council member noted that the park board and school district already have existing three-year leases for the field and that any long-term arrangement could be implemented through a lease or a formal agreement to ensure maintenance responsibilities.
The baseball group said it has identified roughly $75,000 in potential fundraising for capital improvements but said work would only proceed after the city's confirmation of a long-term preservation path. Several council members asked staff to provide additional information about options and next steps; one councilor said staff should be directed to research the process and return to council with recommendations.
The council did not take immediate final action to change the field's status at the July 8 meeting. Staff indicated they can draft a sample resolution and additional background for council consideration — the likely next steps noted during the discussion.
The presentation closed with an offer from the proponents to participate in a volunteer committee to help with fundraising and planning. The council also discussed lease options that could provide the Moose Lake Buzz or other community groups a longer-term commitment for maintenance if capital investment takes place.
