On Thursday, the La Crosse Loggers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) began construction on a $900,000 renovation to Copeland Park.
This project will bring about two major changes to the facility. Down the first base line, the Loggers are adding a multipurpose building that will house their ticket offices, as a well a team store, restrooms, and concessions. In addition, Copeland Park will also feature a new courtyard/plaza area that will serve part of its concourse. The upgrades will be complete by the beginning of the 2017 season.
This latest project, which will bring total expenditures on Copeland Park near the $3 million mark since the Loggers inception in 2003, will feature an entirely new building that will house the Window World Ticket Office, the P & P Products Pro Shop, the Gerhard’s 1st Supply restrooms and an additional concession building. Furthermore, fans will enter through the new Coverra Insurance Services Courtyard Entrance that will also feature home plate pavers embedded in the entrance walkway commemorating the individuals who have been inducted into the La Crosse Area Baseball Hall of Fame.
The latest enhancement to La Crosse’s home for baseball will be the largest in a long line of improvements the Loggers organization has been making since their inaugural season of 2003. Out of the nearly $3 million in investments into the city-owned Copeland Park, the Loggers have personally been responsible for over $2.3 million. The other nearly $700,000 came from donations including an initial grant from the Corrine Zielke Fund that contributed $300,000 towards the construction of the main, covered grandstand back in 2003. The La Crosse Community Foundation also contributed $70,000 towards the installation of the new lights in 2008 and in the fall of 2013 Dave and Barb Skogen donated $320,000 towards the installation of the AstroTurf infield and new dugouts as part of the partnership formed between the Loggers and the UWL Baseball program.
The new entrance and building that will house the new ticket office, pro shop, restrooms and expanded concessions is being constructed by Borton Construction and is expected to be complete in time for the Loggers to celebrate their 15-year anniversary season in 2017.
Rendering courtesy La Crosse Loggers.