The Journal Gazette reported last Saturday that the Allen County Commissioners approved a contract with MSKTD to draw up plans for the Memorial Stadium demolition. Â Memorial Stadium has been the home for the Fort Wayne Wizards Minor League Baseball team since their coming to town in the ’90s. Â It will be kept open for a few months after Parkview Field opens at Harrison Square, then will be demolished.
[…] MSKTD will handle the plans needed to tear down Memorial Stadium and convert the area to a parking lot for $135,765. The total $2.7 million project will also reconfigure the entire parking lot at the Coliseum, plus add trees, parking islands, collections systems to prevent oil and gas from entering the nearby St. Joseph River, and add rain gardens.
Coliseum General Manager Randy Brown said funds from professional sports and convention development will pay for the project.
Coliseum officials have been saving money to cover the project for more than a year and currently have just $2.2 million set aside. Brown expects to bring in enough revenue between now and the June construction start date to make up the difference, he told the commissioners.
He hopes to advertise the work for bids this spring.
[…]Â Commissioner Bill Brown questioned the high contract fee with MSKTD to finalize design.
Randy Brown said adding the storm-water runoff protections and rain gardens make the project more complex and take special skills to design, which added to the price tag.
The commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the contract with Bill Brown voting against it.
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The Commissioners also approved a contract with MSKTD that will renovate the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum’s Exposition Center.  The work will include general maintenance work and updates to lighting and HVAC systems.  The cost is projected to cost $5 million.
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