Top Menu

Milwaukie: We expect ballpark deal by end of July

Northwest LeagueMilwaukie (Ore.) officials say they’re progressing on a deal for a new ballpark opening in 2014 and expect to have a plan in place by the end of July.

City officials were in the hunt for a short-season A Northwest League team along with Hillsboro in recent months, but Hillsboro managed to pull the trigger on a deal to bring the Yakima Bears to a new ballpark for the 2013 season. That’s not stopping the efforts to bring baseball to Milwaukie. Potential territorial issues seem to be put aside for now, as the Portland market could end up hosting two Northwest League teams beginning in 2014.

Milwaukie’s ballpark plan is a little more complex than Hillsboro’s: state DOT facilities must be moved to make way for the ballpark, and some street issues must be addressed. Still, a Milwaukie team is seen as complementing, rather than competing with Hillsboro by many in baseball.

The schedule is tight: the city must develop a ballpark plan by July 31, with the City Council debating the issue on Aug. 7. If a plan is deemed solid enough to proceed, voters will be asked to approve bonding for a ballpark during the fall elections.

RELATED STORIES: Debate continues: Can Portland support two short-season team?Milwaukie, Northwest League discussing team, ballparkHillsboro approves offer sheet to Yakima BearsHillsboro set to vote on new ballpark; Milwaukie will delay decisionMilwaukie advances, Hillsboro retreats in Portland-area ballpark raceYakima County: We’ll discuss ballpark upgradesPlan B for Bears: Work on Yakima ballpark planAdmissions tax voted down in Clark CountyMilwaukie seeks public input on new ballparkMilwaukie moves ahead with ballpark-feasibility studyClark County postpones ballpark hearingCounty scales back commitment to Portland-area ballparkCompeting ballpark plans in PortlandNew Portland-area ballpark could provide economical bump: studyClark County reverses course; will exclusively negotiate with BearsClark County passes on exclusive negotiations with Bears; opposition to new ballpark risesFunding plan emerges for new Clark County ballpark;Yakima Bears to Portland area

—-

Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.

Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!

Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!

, , , , , ,