Groundbreaking Thursday for New Lancers Baseball Stadium

With a boost by a major gift from an anonymous donor, Brookfield Central will break ground Thursday on a new state-of-the-art baseball stadium that will be ready for use next spring.

A public groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the baseball stadium site just south of the football / track stadium behind Brookfield Central, 16900 W. Gebhardt Rd.

In just a few months, Central 4Ward — a new volunteer fundraising group of parents and other backers — has raised $266,655 and deposited it in Elmbrook School District accounts.

The School Board voted 6-1 in March to fund one-third of the baseball stadium project, if Central 4Ward raised the other two-thirds before any construction began. 

It was a major victory for Central, which has been told for years that the district would not fund any major project there from the football / multipurpose stadium project in 2006.

Central 4Ward has delivered. It also is working to repay the football debt over the next five years, paying $40,000 in March to cut the remaining debt to about $81,000.

A major donation from the family of a varsity baseball athlete helped make the baseball stadium project a reality. Construction will occur this summer, slow down to move out of the way for fall sports and finish in time for spring / summer baseball next year.

The baseball stadium is the first of a four-phase plan by Central 4Ward that also proposes in future years building a concessions/restroom facility, resurfacing the tennis courts, and replacing press boxes and bleachers by 2016 or 2017. The entire project, with all phases, is esimated to cost about $1.2 million, with the district funding a third and private donations, two thirds.

Central 4ward’s mission is to enhance and maintain a “Commitment of Excellence” spirit at BCHS through pride and property.

At Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony which will include speakers and refreshments, Central4ward will launch Phase II campaign fundraising efforts to fund the new concession stand and bathroom facility to be located between the baseball field and all-purpose field. Interested supporters will be able to find more information on these capital projects and have the opportunity to donate online.