Prospect Meadows Inc.

For Immediate Release July 9, 2012 For More Information: Jack Roeder 319-213-1775 or 319-393-1684

PROSPECT MEADOWS BALL FIELDS SEEKS FUNCTIONAL INPUT CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- As Prospect Meadows Ball Fields (PMBF) board of directors continues to plan the 17 ball field complex northeast of Marion, the group seeks to share the project details and seeks public input regarding how the facility may be utilized. Wed like to share details about the planned project with interested groups, coaches and parents of ball teams, and gather information about field utilization, said Jack Roeder, PMBFs president. The project will be implemented just south of County Home Rd. and east of Highway 13, and will feature 17 fields: eight with 400-foot fences, eight with 300-foot fences and one Miracle Field, specially built for people with disabilities. There will be seating and lights, as well as a sound system and score boards. Additionally, there will be concessions, restrooms, press boxes, and a souvenir shop. There are more than 500 youth ball teams in the area, but only 50 public fields, Roeder said. Its a theme we hear often from people looking for places to play and practice. We want to hear from them. PMBF is hosting two informational sessions in July to gather feedback from the public: -more-

PMBF Input/2 Thursday, July 19, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel on 33rd Ave SW Wednesday, July 25, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Longbranch Hotel on Twixt Town Road Anyone interested in learning more about the complex is welcome to attend.With league tournaments and tournament usage by Perfect Game USA, the Cedar Rapids-based scouting firm, Roeder said PMBF expects more than 60,000 out-of-the-area visitors will come to the area each year for games, filling 80,000 hotel room nights due to extended stays. More than 120,000 people are projected to visit the complex annually, which is based upon research conducted from other facilities. PMBF will create $25 million in direct spending in the area each year, as well as 200 full-and part-time jobs with an annual payroll of more than $500,000. Locating the complex in the Cedar Rapids-Marion metro area will be important, Roeder said. Tournament groups are going to want to be near hotels, convenience stores, entertainment, restaurants, and shopping, and offering these amenities is important to the project. For large tournaments, collaborations with other close and accessible ball fields in the metro area will be the key to offering additional games. New amenities that are constructed nearby will benefit during the ball season and, in the off season, they will have a local and large enough population base to utilize their services. The $9.4 million complex will be paid for through local and state funding, grants, private donations, loans and, once built, will be self-sustained through its operational income. A target completion date has yet to be set as the planning continues. -more-

PMBF Input/3 Besides ball players, Roeder welcomes talking with any civic group interested in learning about the project. We plan to have leagues for at-risk kids who really could benefit from all that being on a ball team has to offer, but cant afford it, as well as the Miracle Field for people with disabilities. There are civic groups out there that may be interested in being involved and we want to hear from them. Those interested in learning more can contact Roeder at 319-393-1684. ###