ALAMOSA, Colo. (AP) - Alamosa County residents are hoping a new baseball complex will draw thousands of fans hoping to sharpen their skills and keep the season going. They are also counting on the huge project to bring sorely needed economic development to the area.
Co-founder Geoff West said he plans 38 playing fields for Little League teams, softball teams, and other baseball activities in southern Colorado.
West said he hopes to have the first stage of the project running next year, with completion for youths under 12 and for girls’ softball teams. Plans are also in the works for adult teams and training for coaches and players.
West said the baseball complex is modeled after the Cooperstown theme park in New York, which hosts more than 1,300 teams a year, according to its website.
West plans to run baseball camps from June until August, inviting up to 1,200 teams. He said there are more than enough teams across the country that can’t get enough baseball.
“This is a big project,” said Alamosa County Commission Chairman Darius Allen, before plans for the Top of the World Series special use permit got tentative approval. “We want to make sure we do it proper and right.”
The proposed ballpark is much more than baseball fields. A western park will offer bunkhouses for 100 umpires, three practice field clusters, a shop and three residential houses, the Alamosa Valley Courier reported (https://tinyurl.com/nux3pq3).
The proposed eastern park is more elaborate with 50 bunkhouses for 1,400 youths and 400 coaches, a cafeteria with a meeting room and more practice field clusters.
County officials say they are worried about water, wastewater treatment and traffic. Opponents are concerned it will hurt wildlife areas and draw too many people, putting a strain on local resources.
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Information from: Valley Courier, https://www.alamosanews.com/
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