Troops help build Mosinee's new baseball field

MOSINEE - The first of eight new state-of-the-art Mosinee Athletic Complex baseball fields was unveiled to the public Wednesday morning.

Ann Schultz, superintendent for the Mosinee School District, hosted the event, which offered attendees their very first look at the fully constructed turf field, a small portion of a much larger project nearly a year in the making. The more than 125 Wisconsin National Guard members essential to the field's construction were also present for the gathering.

“For our community, we really want a place for people to gather,” Schultz said. “We want a place where people can celebrate youth and just be together to enjoy a game. So for our community this is an awesome, awesome complex. We are really excited to welcome back the Army National Guard.”

Upon completion, the 72-acre outdoor sports complex will feature eight baseball/softball fields, a volleyball court, two soccer and football fields and two basketball courts. Residents also will have access to a brand new park area situated on the grounds. The Mosinee Community Athletic Association, Mosinee School Board and more recently a pledge program through the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin helped raise over $450,000 toward the cost of the complex, with around $650,000 worth of in-kind labor and donations having gone into the project already.

In total, the entire outdoor complex is projected to cost $1 million by its estimated completion date in 2020.

Design and construction of the multi-phase complex is being directed, funded and developed with the help of the Mosinee school board, the Mosinee Community Athletic Association and the Wisconsin National Guard.

Early plans for the outdoor facility stem back to 2010, with significant development on the million-dollar venture occurring after the MCAA's four-year effort to bring the National Guard on board.

Upwards of 150 soldiers are working on further construction of the project this June. It's all part of a community-wide effort to improve the school district's limited facility and field resources for its elementary, middle and high school athletics programs.

The Wisconsin National Guard’s presence in Mosinee this month marks the third time soldiers have been stationed locally to assist with the endeavor.

The MCAA broke ground on the complex with the help of around 54 soldiers last summer after having raised $300,000 of their total funding goal. Soldiers from bases across the state have returned this year to continue that work, according to Brig. Gen. and Deputy Adjutant General Mark E. Anderson.

RELATED: Work begins on Mosinee Athletic Complex

“These soldiers train each and every day when they’re in uniform for their federal mission, and that’s in this case horizontal construction,” Anderson told press during Wednesday’s event.

Horizontal construction engineering incorporates the use of bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy equipment to move earth and material. This type of training for Wisconsin guard members is typically completed at Fort McCoy. By choosing to work with the MCAA on the new sports complex, soldiers gain necessary experience while lending a hand to a community in need.

The massive undertaking is expected to greatly enhance the district’s athletics program, as well as the day-to-day experience of its students. The outdoor facility, which is being built from the ground up, will also have scoreboards for the baseball, softball and soccer fields, seating, lighting, and sound equipment, among other features.

None of this could be done without what Mosinee School District Athletics and Activities Director Zack Zebro calls a “collaborative approach.” That is, while the new complex will give Mosinee students better opportunities to play and grow, the training becomes a chance for young soldiers to not only community build, but develop their personal and professional identities.

“Overall, it’s just been a forecast of working with our engineers on what do we need done, what’s the timeline and how can the National Guard step in and get their training,” Zebro said. “It’s really been the best for both groups. They’re helping service the community, servicing the project, but they’re also getting a lot of in-the-field training that will transfer to other things in the field they’ll carry on into.”

Abbey M. White: awhite2@gannettwisconsin.com or 715-845-0654 on Twitter @abwhite13.