Chula Vista planning baseball, soccer complex

By Anna Krejci
Capital Newspapers

WISCONSIN DELLS—A field at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Golden Drive in Dell Prairie might be converted to a new, outdoor baseball complex for youth if Chula Vista Resort owner Mike Kaminski pursues his dream.

At last Tuesday's town of Dell Prairie meeting Kaminski and president of baseball operations Champions Village Steve Colombo gave a presentation and heard people's reaction on what Kaminski called a "fact finding mission."

Kaminski said he was presenting his plans for the proposed development on land upon which he once considered building homes and a golf course.

The complex, referred to as Chula Vista Champions Village, would consist of, at least initially, nine baseball fields and spectator seating for 1,500. Six soccer fields were also drawn on the conceptual design. Overnight lodging facilities would be built on the north end of the property designed to house baseball teams of young boys or girls between the ages of 10 and 12. Coaches would supervise the teams playing and overnight in the cabins. Teams numbering in the thousands across the Midwest could be attracted to the Dells to compete. Teams would play several games a day, some of which would be televised.

The complex would primarily operate from June to August and would be modeled after Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, N.Y. Colombo said similar ventures are clustered along the East coast, but nothing like it is in the Midwest.

Kaminski and Colombo spoke about their intent that the Champions Village afford youngsters as close experience as possible to professional competition.

"This is not a baseball camp. This is not a skills camp where Johnny learns how to swing better. This is a tournament experience so we have teams playing teams in a competitive environment in a controlled environment with coaches and umpires," Kaminski said.

He tried to assure residents that the players would be well behaved. He said the experience is specifically designed for 10- to 12-year-olds who are at a less "rambunctious" age.

"It's not like we're going to have a million kids running around the baseball field until 12:30 at night out of control. This is an extremely supervised situation," he said.

Kaminski touted the economic value his proposal could have on Dell Prairie.

"We would be spending on total build out probably somewhere in the area about $35 million in Dell Prairie which would be taxable and on the tax rolls," he said.

A 400-car parking lot is planned for the area, however.

Kaminski said the complex likely wouldn't open before June 2010.

The presentation was met with some residents outspokenly against the plan and others appreciative of it.

Dell Prairie resident Marilyn Toenjes called the proposed plan "ugliness" and out of place in Dell Prairie's natural surroundings.

Toenjes said she values the natural, 10-acre setting at her home on Golden Drive — just south of where the development is planned.

"I saved and dreamed for this. And the thought of looking out at pristine beautiful baseball fields? You must be kidding," she said.

She said children in the local school district couldn't afford to attend the attraction that wouldn't be as appealing to them anyway.

"I'm a school teacher and I truly believe this is an adult dream for baseball," she said.

On the other hand, Dell Prairie resident Michael Loebbaka supported the plan that Toenjes viewed as an abnormality in the area.

When he came to the area he said he purposefully chose to live in a subdivision where he could predict more housing would be built next to his property.

"When you go out and get these 100-, 200-acre parcels you got to think they might build an airport next to you. That's just going to be the way it is," he said.

"This is the number one vacation destination in the state. That's why I moved here. Because there's revenue here, and these guys all have dreams," he said.