<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4GNvyX_1H1kijWQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4GNvyX_1H1kijWQ00" width="388" height="376" ><figcaption>This drawing shows the preliminary layout Ayers Associates put together for the proposed improvements to the Memorial Field sports complex in Sturgeon Bay. Submitted.</figcaption></figure>A $546,000 contract with Ayers Associates for design and engineering services for improvements at Sturgeon Bay’s Memorial Field sports complex was recommended Nov. 10 by the city’s Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee.The sports complex includes a combination of city-owned and school district-owned land in the area of Memorial Field within a half-mile radius of Tax Incremental District (TID) #6. The TID project plan includes $1.5 million designated for sports complex improvements and could fund the contract with Ayers, if the Common Council approves the recommendation. That consideration may come as early as Nov. 17.The firm previously did preliminary design work for the complex, and a December 2024 open house gathered public input on the preferences for proposed improvements.“Since that meeting, a study has been published, along with some feasibility and some economic analysis that point to this might be a really worthy project,” said City Administrator Josh Van Lieshout.Van Lieshout.“The proposal is $546,000, which is expensive,” he said. “[The first phase of complex improvements] will cover roughly $4 million in project expenses, but the bulk of the effort [from Ayers] is identifying all of the issues and doing preliminary engineering work for the whole site.”The city and school district previously approved a master plan to modernize the facilities, which include a track along Michigan Street that does not meet WIAA standards for hosting meets because it lacks the required rubberized surface.The highest priority outlined in the master plan is the construction of a new 400-meter track with an artificial turf field inside it for football and soccer. The $4 million first phase would be located on the current sites of the Jaycees softball field and Dick Clark soccer field, south of Michigan Street along 15th Avenue.“You can’t just do the track and turf without looking at everything, because there are utility considerations, sewer and water, electric, drainage considerations and so forth,” Van Lieshout said.The proposed Ayers contract includes four tasks with lump sum fees: overall sports complex schematic design ($98,000), phase one design development ($112,000), phase one construction documents and bidding assistance ($256,000) and phase one construction administration ($80,000).The total estimated cost for all the improvements proposed at the sports complex comes to $14.7 million, with a phased timeline over multiple years. Other possible improvements include a practice field behind the high school, an additional baseball and softball field, and a year-round event building with utilities.Because the $1.5 million designated in the TID #6 project plan would not cover the cost of phase one, Van Lieshout said the city and school district are exploring a capital campaign to raise additional funds through donations.Van Lieshout said the school district’s investment in the project would involve maintenance rather than capital contributions. “They’re really concerned about having a sports referendum,” he said. “They don’t think that would be supported, and their research data show that. They’re very aware of what their core business is. It’s educating kids, and that’s what they want to stay focused on. Nonetheless, they see the value of this [project], and want to support it.”Van Lieshout emphasized that the Memorial Field sports complex is a public park, and not a facility exclusively for school use.“It’s city-owned, it’s [a] city investment, it’s like any public park,” he said. “This one’s aimed toward athletics. It’s a big difference compared to maybe how you look at other facilities that are tied to schools. This is intended to be really a community park.”The current project schedule calls for Ayers to complete design work in 2027, with construction taking place in 2028. Van Lieshout said that timeline could change depending on how the capital campaign proceeds.Council President Dan Williams, who sits on the committee, said the phased approach would allow the city to make significant improvements even if the entire master plan is not completed.“I think I’ve heard comments from many people on the street that if we never got past phase one, we’d still be way ahead of where we are today,” he said. “I hope that we get past phase one, but I think that phase one is going to be a huge success and allow our kids to run track meets and things on their own soil again and not have to go someplace else to have a home track meet.”Van Lieshout said making improvements at the sports complex could also have a “pretty strong economic development aspect” for the city to attract young families with children.“When you’re looking at moving or relocating your family, one of the first things you look at is what are the schools like,” he said. “Visuals matter. It makes an impression. If you’ve been around anywhere between Sturgeon Bay and even Green Bay or Appleton, you see that we’re not competitive in that regard.” Van Lieshout said it is “a tougher sell to relocate and take that job in Sturgeon Bay, if the schools don’t look like they’re up to snuff.” “This is a public park, but you can’t mistake the impression,” he said. “[The sports complex is] right across the street [from the schools].”</div></body>

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A $546,000 contract with Ayers Associates for design and engineering services for improvements at Sturgeon Bay’s Memorial Field sports complex was recommended Nov. 10 by the city’s Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee. The sports complex includes a combination of city-owned and school district-owned land in the area of Memorial...

Memorial Field Improvement Plan Advances

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A $546,000 contract with Ayers Associates for design and engineering services for improvements at Sturgeon Bay’s Memorial Field sports complex was recommen

Memorial Field Improvement Plan Advances

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