Resort Tax to help fund ballpark

The group raising money for the new

Glacier Twins Memorial Park grandstand is hoping to kick their

efforts “into high gear.”

“It’s time to finish this before we are

at it a full decade,” fundraising committee member Paul Johannsen

told the Whitefish City Council at the May 2 meeting.

While $250,000 was raised last summer

to build a new backstop and roof, the ballpark is currently using

temporary metal bleachers for seating. They’re uncomfortable and

offer a “much less satisfactory baseball experience.”

The group asked the council that a

portion of Resort Tax funds be directed to the project to help

reach their goal of raising $1.5 million by July 1.

The council unanimously agreed during a

May 2 meeting to build into the budget three payments toward

reconstructing Memorial Park. Once the budget is officially

approved, $50,000 will be allotted for fiscal year 2012.

Installments of $25,000 each will be built into the 2013 and 2014

budgets, for a total of $100,000.

City finance director Rich Knapp notes

that nothing is official until each of the fiscal budgets are

approved. The funds will come from 5 percent of the Resort Tax fund

that is allotted for “bicycle paths and other park capital

improvements.”

“This stadium is good for kids and good

for the community,” Johannsen said.

He noted that the park is also used for

high school football games, boxing matches and occasional

concerts.

“This is a facility that will last 100

years when we’re done with it,” he said.

Councilor Bill Khale said the ballpark

is a great investment.

“It’s a great use of Resort Tax

dollars,” he said.

Designs call for seating that will

accommodate up to 1,000 spectators. A lobby will house locker

rooms, ticket booth, concessions, a public rest room, storage space

and an office.

The original grandstand built in 1935

by the Works Production Administration and the Civilian

Conservation Corps was torn down in 2002 after the city

controversially deemed it unsafe.

The past actions of the city may still

sting, but Johannsen said that’s all in the past.

“That’s all done,” he said. “Our goal

is to now improve this facility.”

To learn more about the Stadium Capital

Fund, call Kurt Blades at 261-5584.