Madison Considers Buying East Side Little League Fields

by Max Moreno, age 13

Officials in Madison are considering buying baseball fields used by the East Madison Little League. If the purchase goes through, the land will become part of the city's park system; however, the Little League will still be able to play on the fields.

The Little League has leased the land since 1994, when the land was owned by the local Oscar Mayer plant. After the plant shut down in 2017, the property was sold to outside companies who were planning a redevelopment for the land.

Over time, ownership of the land changed, and the newest owner showed interest in the site becoming parkland. Many city officials considered buying it for this purpose. The city offered a $1.8 million deal for the property, if completed then, the city would lease the land back to East Madison Little League, so they can continue to play on it. The property has been expected to eventually become parkland but due to limited baseball fields in Madison, officials see this as an important step in protecting recreational space. East Madison Little League has not made a public response to the proposal.

[Sources: Wisconsin State Journal; Madison.com; Northside News]