Ken DeCoster
Rockford Register Star
Published 5:03 a.m. CT March 7, 2023 Updated 7:44 a.m. CT March 7, 2023
Plans to build an International Women’s Baseball Museum on the grounds of Beyer Stadium Park, 311 15th Ave., may be revised yet again.
Project organizers are reconsidering an original proposal to build the museum and a community center on donated property in the 1600 block of Seminary Street, directly west of Beyer Stadium Park, according to International Women’s Baseball Center President Kat Williams.
“If we were able to do that, the north end of Beyer, which we own, would be green space — much as it is now," Williams said. "But one of the things that would be in there is what we have identified as an outdoor museum or a memorial, but no physical building. These are all possibilities. That’s all they are at this point.”
The museum project was heralded as a celebration of the history of girls and women’s baseball and Rockford’s own sports history when it was unveiled several years ago.
The Rockford Peaches, who were members of the All-American Girls Baseball League in the 1940s and 1950s, called Beyer Stadium home for more than a decade.
The original plan was revised in 2019 when the International Women’s Baseball Center determined the Seminary Street property, donated by J & M Plating Inc. of Rockford, was not large enough to accommodate both the museum and the community center.
Rockford Park District commissioners approved a proposal in October 2021 to sell an acre of land on the north end of Beyer Stadium Park to the IWBC for $25,000 where the women’s baseball museum was to be constructed. The IWBC is also leasing the remaining three acres of land at the park.
The idea of building the museum on the north end of Beyer Stadium Park drew objections from a citizens group called Friends of Beyer Stadium.
Members of the Friends group who volunteered for years to restore the grounds and promote women's baseball said they supported the concept of a women’s baseball museum but did not want the museum built directly on park grounds.
Friends of Beyer Stadium board president Greg Schwanke declined to comment on the museum committee's reconsideration.
The IWBC is planning meetings this spring with the organization’s architect, fundraiser and project manager to discuss their options.
“We have always said that Beyer, itself, will be preserved no matter what we do,” Williams said. “We also want to try to find ways to make this the best possible location, the best possible campus, and so we’re looking at all kinds of ideas. But, I can’t nor will I give any kind of definitive answer on that because we are truly doing our due diligence.”
According to Williams, “Well over $2 million” of the project’s $12 million to $15 million price tag has been raised to date, including pledges.
In addition to the Women’s Baseball Museum, the IWBC plans to build a community center with meeting rooms, batting cages and space for indoor soccer and volleyball on the donated land along Seminary Street.
There is no timetable for ground to be broken for the project.
“We have always said we are dedicated to doing this phase by phase,” Williams said. “In other words, we don’t want to put shovels in the ground when we don’t have the money to do it yet. That’s always been our plan and that’s kind of where we are at this point.”
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com
