The Carroll County Board of Supervisors voted this (Monday) morning to contribute $50,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) funds to support a grant application for proposed renovations and improvements at Carroll’s Merchants Park. Representatives from the Carroll Athletic Association and the City of Carroll attended the meeting to request funding. Association member, Chris Whitaker, explains what they have planned for the historic ballfield.
The city and association hope to have about 40 percent of the estimated $900,000 cost covered through the Destination Iowa grant. The remaining 60 percent is sourced from the City of Carroll and association fundraising efforts. Last week, the Carroll City Council discussed contributing as much as $375,000 to the renovation and is tentatively scheduled to decide during their May 9 meeting. Because Destination Iowa is such a new program, it is not clear how competitive the application process will be. Whitaker says the association wants to present the best funding request they can, which involves support from multiple organizations.
The supervisors agreed Merchants Park has been a tremendous asset for the county as a source of entertainment for residents through Carroll Merchants baseball, homefield for the Carroll and Kuemper baseball teams, and now as the site for the class 1A and 2A state baseball tournament through 2024. District 5 Supervisor, Rich Ruggles, believes the whole county will benefit from the board’s contribution.
The supervisors voted unanimously to pledge $50,000 of their L.O.S.T. revenues to aid in the grant application. The supervisors’ contribution would be split into two $25,000 payments over two fiscal years if the grant was approved. The Destination Iowa grant application period opens on May 9.
