By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After a celebrated, yet emotional, groundbreaking two-and-a-half years ago, the final stage of the Treyton’s Field of Dreams sports fields within Starin Park are coming in for a home run.
Matt Amundson, Whitewater’s parks and recreation director, gave a status update at a Feb. 18 Common Council meeting on the last leg of the Field of Dreams project, which is named in honor of Treyton Kilar. The avid baseball player died at age 6 in 2010 after sustaining injuries from a car crash.
While the baseball diamonds themselves are up and running, the grounds do not yet have restrooms and a concession stand. But both accommodations are expected to be in place by the time warm weather sets in for the 2016 season.
Although some assistance from city staffers will be given, Amundson said the restroom and concession stand projects are coming to fruition, in large part through a volunteer-driven effort.
“We are hopeful the weather continues to cooperate as it has,” Amundson said. “We’re looking to do the framing work in March and then do some of the masonry work.”
As of the Feb. 18 council meeting, Amundson said data has revealed activity at Treyton’s Field of Dreams should pick up this season. Forty-six baseball teams have registered to use the grounds so far this year — up from 10 registered teams a year ago at this time. More registrations are expected.
“We’re considerably ahead of last year’s pace,” Amundson said. “We’re a little more well known, now that we have a first year under our belt.”
To accommodate the planned growth, Amundson said eight tournaments are planned at Treyton’s Field of Dreams this year, up from the six that took place last year.
