Baseball Field Requests in Muskego Parks Reveals Impending Shortage of Space

The Muskego Parks and Recreation Board met Monday night, and reviewed the 2012 season requests for baseball and softball teams. What became apparent is that the interest in the sport, and the need for regulation-sized fields for teams in U-13 and older leagues, will likely create a shortage in the city's parks.

"It's gotten a lot busier with teams," said Director Craig Anderson. "Horn Field is the only field with 90-foot base paths, and there is a new team, the Muskego Rebels, who is making requests. If the trend continues, there won't be home fields for some of these teams."

Anderson said he has reached out to Scott Kugi with Muskego High School to determine the availability of the fields there, but he pointed out that the high school teams will always garner priority use of the fields.

With most teams playing at the same general times - in the early evenings and on Saturdays, there's only a few slots per day that can be offered. Anderson said when Park Arthur comes on line, it will alleviate some of the scheduling challenges, especially as the larger field will be lit.

Baseball is played at Horn Field seven days per week at Horn Field, and six days per week at Denoon. Fields that are built for little league can't be 'adjusted' to accommodate the larger regulation fields required by the older leagues, as it impacts not only the base paths, but the depth of the fields and placement of foul lines.