KEARNEY – The home of Kearney Bearcats baseball and Senior and Junior Legion Baseball could have a new owner in the near future.
According to the April 10 Kearney Public Schools agenda and board meeting, KPS has inquired Kearney Parks and Recreation as well as the City of Kearney for a proposal to purchase Memorial Field.
KPS Superintendent Jason Mundorf had spoke with City of Kearney Manager Mike Morgan in past few months about the potential interest in selling Memorial Field to KPS, to offset the cost that would come from maintenance and operations for the incoming Kearney Sports Complex.
A proposal of $1.5 million has been approved by the KPS School Board to send to the City of Kearney for the purchase of the Memorial Field property, field house, and the entirety of the north field which is currently used as parking.
Mundorf also added in Monday’s meeting that the cost would be more efficient for KPS considering the construction and dirt movement for a new baseball field would cost around $2 million.
The proposal also listed plans and possible changes KPS would have with the field. Which include continuing to support the American Legion Summer Baseball Program, taking over existing contractual agreements with current sponsorships, an interest in adding a digital scoreboard, and assuming all responsibility in maintaining facilities.
Established in 1946, Kearney’s Memorial Field has been well integrated in the Kearney community. Construction of Memorial Field began in 1940, as lights were added in 1946. The park is named in honor of the service men and women who fought in World War II.
The field was originally home to Kearney Irishman, but became home to the Nebraska State Rookie League’s Kearney Yankees in 1956. Legion Baseball has been played at Memorial Field since its inception, but the Kearney Baseball program has used the facility since 2019. The University of Nebraska Kearney Loper Baseball team also called Memorial Field home until the program’s dismissal in 2018.
Kearney’s Memorial Field
