Ballpark fundraising benefits ARC; council sets groundbreaking date

• Ballpark schematic

A landscape design for First National Bank of River Falls Field, provided by The Greenskeepers of River falls. Submitted illustration

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The River Falls Baseball Council (RFBC) has announced it is teaming up with the Assistance and Resource Center (ARC) this winter as part of a renewed engraved paver brick and grandstand seat nameplate drive for First National Bank of River Falls Field.

For all bricks and seats sold from November, 2012 through February, 2013 the RFBC will give 20 percent of the proceeds to ARC.

ARC was established in 2008 as a nonprofit organization committed to helping the community of River Falls. Its mission is to provide short-term financial assistance to members of the community to help meet their basic needs and provide access to additional resources. Since its creation has been serving the community in partnership with other agencies, businesses, and churches.

“We thought the two groups were a great fit,” RFBC president Josh Eidem said. “While we’re still in the fundraising stage for the ballpark, our long-term vision is that the facility serves as a resource for our community. With our fundraising targets being hit so far, we saw an opportunity to give back and are taking advantage of that.”

So far, the RFBC has raised $437,000 of the estimated $750,000 cost of ballpark construction, including a recent $15,000 commitment from River Falls Area Hospital, Allina Health, and River Falls Medical Clinic to co-sponsor the facility’s planned playground area. According to Eidem, the RFBC has another $40,000 in donations currently in negotiation, which would bring the total to $477,000.

The RFBC has set a ground-breaking at the Hoffman Park East site for May 1, 2013. The group plans to cover the $313,000 gap between current funds raised and total construction cost with fundraising over the winter and a loan to be paid back through future advertising and concessions revenue.

“There is plenty of ground left to cover, but we’re certainly humbled by the generosity of our local community so far,” Eidem said. “We are hopeful that, given our progress, and a realistic ground-breaking date, more individuals will join us in putting their name on a brick or seat.”

The ballpark still has amenities left looking for sponsorship, including blocks of grandstand seats, the home and visitor’s dugouts, two of the park’s eight light poles, and the press box. Bricks and seats can be ordered online at www.riverfallsbaseball.org or by calling Eidem at 651-335-0030.

Learn more about the Assistance & Resource Center at its web site:

www.arcriverfalls.org.

Tags: river falls, sports, business, wisconsin, baseball