Oconto Fall's Memorial Park ball diamond gets a makeover

OCONTO FALLS — The baseball diamond at Memorial Field in Oconto Falls is getting a needed facelift, thanks to a collaboration between the city, the school district and the private booster organization Panther Pride.

Crews from the city and Panther Pride volunteers took down the old outfield fence and built new dugouts and a storage building. They are in the process of putting down a new surface on the infield.

Yet to be completed as of the end of last week were a new pitcher’s mound and the new fence.

The Oconto Falls City Council on July 9 approved the participation of the street department in the project, and the school board on July 15 allocated $20,000 from its Fund 80 community projects account toward the work.

Proceeds from the sale of the city’s 100th anniversary commemorative coin are also designated toward Memorial Park improvements. The council earlier this year approved a concept prepared by the Point of Beginnings consulting firm for a major makeover of the park where the Panthers football and track and field teams played before construction of ST Paper Stadium.

Alderman Devin Wirtz spearheaded the 100-year coin project. He presented ideas and came up with the design, along with the help of the LaViolette Group of Green Bay, which produced the coins.

The commemorative coins are on sale at Oconto Falls City Hall, 500 N. Chestnut Ave., for $20 in a plastic sleeve or $30 in a soft container.