OREM — It appears to be just a matter of time before the snow will melt, the grass will grow, and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" will greet I-15 drivers as people enter the Orem south exit.
It was a dream three years in the making, and on Thursday, Utah Valley State College officials unveiled architectural drawings and a model of their field of dreams. The new baseball stadium, which will nestle between the UVSC main campus and I-15, will have 2,500 elevated seats with additional grass-berm seating for people who want a chance to catch foul balls or homeruns.
The field, with home plate facing southwest, has dimensions of 325 feet down the leftfield line, 310 down the rightfield line and 400 feet to center field. The deepest part of the park is in left center.
The total cost on the construction will be between $3.4 million and $3.8, said Val Peterson, UVSC's vice president of administration and external affairs. UVSC is still seeking donations for additional amenities to the stadium, such as more chair seating, two tunnels for batting cages and additional brick for the outside of the stadium.
Construction is scheduled to start in February, giving the grass enough time to be ready for the upcoming fall season.
"This is a dream for any coach to have a facility like this," UVSC baseball coach Steve Gardner said. The stadium is a big step forward for the development of the baseball program, which moved to Division I this year.
The Utah Board of Regents approved a baseball stadium for UVSC three years ago, but the project stalled when a major financial donor backed out, Utah County Commissioner Steve White said.
The opportunity to build a baseball stadium presented itself again this winter as the economy picked up and the minor-league Provo Angels searched for a home. UVSC's transition from junior college to Division I status also helped.
"It's only natural to expand facilities to accommodate the transition," Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert said.
The stadium not only enhances the athletic program at UVSC, but also the college and the Utah Valley community, said Mike Jacobson, UVSC athletic director. The stadium will not just be for UVSC games, but may be used for high school tournaments and other activities.
"The stadium will be a beautiful asset to the gateway of Orem City," said Dean Dickerson, an Orem city council member.
Parkway Crossing will donate $1.7 million to the project over the next 10 years, and the stadium will be named after the apartment complex, Peterson said.
"They were an integral part of the project," Peterson said. "We are excited they wanted to be involved with the institution."
EMA Architects, a company that designed the stadium for the minor-league Ogden Raptors, drafted the plans for the new UVSC baseball stadium. The layout of the stadium — the seating, field dimensions and building site — will provide a more intimate experience for everyone at the game, said Craig Elliot, architect for EMA. The layout also provides an opportunity for the public to be involved even from a distance, including commuters driving by on I-15.
"We're excited about the character of the field," Peterson said. "People that come will remember the experience."
The county commission still needs to approve a conduit bond that will loan $3.1-$3.4 million of Utah County sales tax revenue for the construction of the stadium. The three-member commission will vote on the bond Jan. 20. The bond essentially makes the commission the building authority, and UVSC will commit to paying the debt service for the bond, Peterson said.
Peterson said UVSC officials are confident the commissioners will approve the loan since the commissioners have expressed their support for the stadium.
Orem City also committed to donating $250,000 to the stadium project, Peterson said.
The partnership between the college, county, city and private businesses brings the whole community together to build the facility, Peterson said.
"The facility is a wonderful asset to the community," White said.
E-mail: jdoria@desnews.com