Paynesville Funds Ballpark With FEMA Grant

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - They wanted to re-do their ballpark.

The Paynesville ballpark didn't use to look like much, but a coach and some townspeople had a dream.

Now, more than a million dollars later, they have a baseball complex.

They raised about half of it from donations and in-kind labor.

And then found an interesting funding source for the other half. The indoor baseball facility doubles as a storm shelter, and they covered the rest of the cost with a grant from FEMA.

Now the coach has a year-round place to practice.

"I'm excited, because it's an indoor facility in the wintertime that we can use as long as it's available for storm shelter use in the summertime," Paynesville coach Brad Skogland said. "We can have pitching mounds and hitting cages, and that helps the program."

It's the exterior that shines, complete with bricks that give it a classic look and bleachers conducive to a perfect summer night.

"We've had great numbers turn out this season," Skogland said. "The excitement of having the ballpark has really elevated our baseball program."