Carroll Eyes Haertl Field for Lacrosse Team

Haertl Field could soon be owned by Carroll University as an athletic field for its lacrosse team.

Nearly 100 years ago, the Haertl family deed over a property to the city. With the property transfer came a specific condition: the land was to be used as an athletic field for Waukesha children.

The City of Waukesha continues to own the property and the Waukesha School District manages the property. That could all change if Carroll University purchases the land – although its use would remain the same.

“It is underutilized,” said Community Development Director Steve Crandell. “How desirable is that open space?”

The city and the school district have lacked the funds in recent budgets to make improvements to the site. Additionally, vandals have targeted the field, forcing the community to remove the playground at the property.

If Carroll University purchases the property, the intent is to allow the Waukesha youth football program to use the field for its program. Field improvements would be made for a potential varsity lacrosse program.

“Dollars will be allocated for thee ongoing maintenance for Haertl Field, which is a benefit for the children as well as the neighborhood,” Crandell said.

Carroll University’s security would patrol the field and possibly install security cameras. The campus also hopes to use the field for summer athletic camps, which is a marketing tool for the college, according to Ron Lostetter, vice president for finance and administrative services at Carroll University.

“This is in our neighborhood, and we are very concerned about doing what we can to improve our neighborhood,” Lostetter said.

The Waukesha Plan Commission designated the city’s property as surplus land, which begins the first steps in the sale of the property. The Waukesha Common Council also needs to approve the surplus land distinction and, eventually, the sale of the land.