What is Champions Ridge?
Champions Ridge is a 60+ acre complex that will be located along the north side of Highway 3 on the west edge of Waverly (just west of the CUNA Mutual campus). It will be the permanent home of the Bremer County Fair and, in Phase 1, will provide four multipurpose (primarily youth) ball diamonds. When fully developed the complex will include a total of 12 ball diamonds, expanded fair amenities, and a campground. [See the site plans on the opposite side of this sheet.] In both concept and design, Champions Ridge is focused on serving the current and future needs of the youth and families in and around Bremer County.
Why is Champions Ridge needed?
This collaborative project between several youth and adult ball leagues and the Bremer County Fair meets several critical needs which both of these groups have faced:
~Cramped and Outdated Space / Facilities. Both the county fair and our area ball leagues have been growing in numbers and popularity in recent years, yet they have been making do with locations and facilities that are under-sized, over-utilized, and challenging to maintain.
~Frequent Flooding. Both the current fairgrounds (located in southwest Waverly) and many of the youth ball diamonds are subject to frequent flooding. This causes delays, cancellations, and other challenges to providing the events and programming that have been scheduled and planned.
~Safety, Transportation and Congestion Concerns. The mixing of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the current fair site presents serious safety hazards; and parking near the fairgrounds is severely limited. With ball diamonds spread around the city it makes for transportation challenges in getting kids to where they are playing and also introduces risks with the mix of
bike, pedestrian, vehicular traffic.
What other benefits are there to this project?
~Economies of a Joint Effort. With ball leagues and the fair partnering on this project, there are many cost-sharing opportunities that ease the financial burden on both groups. Expenses related to providing parking, roadways, sidewalks, utility infrastructure, and other shared amenities will be proportionately divided between these two entities.
~A Centralized Location. The “all-inclusive” nature of the Champions Ridge site provides a “one-stop” central location for future ball tournaments and other events offered by the Fair Association throughout the year.
~Opportunities for Future Growth. This 150+ acre site allows for growth in both facilities and programming that can be offered at this location. Its high visibility from the major transportation corridors in the area provides incentive for developing new and creative uses of the ball and fair facilities at Champions Ridge.
~Compatible with Waverly’s Long-range Community Development Plans. Waverly’s long term plan calls for a north-south arterial roadway to run along the west edge of this site. Our engineers and site planners have worked with city staff to assure that this transportation corridor is preserved and provides safe access to the site.
~Increased Economic Impact. Champions Ridge offers tremendous potential to become a “destination site” that hosts ball tournaments, livestock shows, outdoor concerts, sports shows, and other educational, recreational, or entertainment events.
Past experience has shown us that the fair and ball events produce revenue, and visitors, that benefit the area economy many times over. The Fair Association and the ball leagues are already developing plans along these lines.
Why the Highway 3 location?
In 2010 a 16-member taskforce consisting of representatives from the Bremer County Fair Board, area ball leagues (youth and adult), area civic groups, and the city of Waverly examined over 25 different sites around the county and evaluated them on at least 8 different qualities including: size and topography, access to transportation corridors, visibility and frontage, availability of utilities and infrastructure, compatibility with adjacent properties, cost, room for future expansion or development, accommodation of both fair and ball events. In the final analysis, the 150+ acre site along the north side of Hwy 3 rose to the top of the list. The city of Waverly has purchased 60+ acres for Phase 1 of the Champions Ridge project, and is on track to exercise the option to buy the remaining acres by Dec. 31, 2016.
Beginning in 2014, the Bremer County Fair Association is purchasing from the city, on a five-year no-interest contract, approximately 40 acres that will become the permanent location of, and owned by (not leased), the Bremer County Fair. The city of Waverly is leasing to the ball leagues (at no fee) the approximately 20 acres being used to build the first quad of ball diamonds. The fair and the ball leagues are sharing in the cost of development the site for occupation; an engineering firm has been hired to prepare construction documents which are now 95% complete.
Why didn’t the fair locate at the County Poor Farm?
This site was carefully evaluated by the Fair Association and the taskforce (see above). Even though the site would have been donated to the Fair, there were several serious concerns with this location: only 10 acres (9 less than the current leased site) would be donated, the remainder would have to be purchased by the Fair at fair market value; a new septic system would need to to be constructed and only one of the buildings there was potentially usable; the lack of services in the area (gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, motels, etc.) made the site impractical for offering fair events and other regional shows throughout the year.
While the Fair Association certainly appreciated the offer of this site, they felt that it was not in the long-term best interests of the Bremer County Fair to accept it.
What is the current status of the Champions Ridge project?
We continue to work on the “quiet phase” of fundraising and prepare for a more widespread public fundraising effort. In addition we are working to make the necessary arrangements and seek the required approvals to begin breaking ground on the site. Our first priority is to move dirt and install necessary infrastructure to prepare the way for building the first quad of multipurpose ball diamonds as well as the essential facilities necessary to host the county fair. Construction plans, successful fundraising, and securing the necessary approvals are just a few of the key pieces that need to fall into place before we can break ground at the site. The fair’s lease on the current fairgrounds ends in spring of 2019, so the fair is working to be ready to host their first fair at Champions Ridge in the summer of 2019. The ball diamonds will need a year of “grow-in” for the turf so the sooner that we can start construction, the sooner we’ll be playing ball at the site. As mentioned, fundraising is a key factor in how soon the site will be ready for occupancy.
Why has it taken so long to get Champions Ridge up and running?
Champions Ridge is a complex project involving several major stakeholders including Waverly area youth and adult ball leagues, the Fair Association, the City of Waverly, area civic groups, and Bremer County constituents (including the Board of Supervisors). We have had many “hoops” that this project has had to jump through, and these take time. Fundraising also is a process of “planting seeds” and nurturing them to the point of “blooming.” Ninety-percent of the work that gets done on behalf of Champions Ridge is done by volunteers. We have been very conscious and deliberate in how we plan and how we use our funds so that we don’t end up with “do-overs.” All our efforts are fueled by the passion and commitment we have for this project! Champions Ridge is governed by a 7-member board made up of three representatives from the Fair Association, three from the area ball groups (youth and adult), and one “at-large” Bremer
county resident. Current members are listed below.
How much has been raised? What needs to be raised?
As of April 2016, we’ve raised a little over $400K in cash and pledges. We have well over a dozen additional grant requests and active donor conversations in the works and these could yield up to another $800-900K. Conversations with contractors and vendors with an interest in this project indicate that “in-kind” contributions could total nearly $500K. To break ground at the site we need at least $1 million in cash/pledges. To complete all of the Phase 1 site plan will take about $3.9 million.
Who are the members of the Champions Ridge governing board?
From the Fair Association: Keven Rasing, Nylene Geerts, Renee Neil
From the ball leagues: Chris McCarville (girls youth ball), Greg Miller (adult softball), Travis Nuss (boys youth ball)
At-large member: Brenda Meyer (Readlyn)
Administrative Counsel: Fred Ribich
Fundraising: General Development Group - Terry & Toni Hinirichs
Champions Ridge is a 60+ acre complex that will be located along the north side of Highway 3 on the west edge of Waverly (just west of the CUNA Mutual campus). It will be the permanent home of the Bremer County Fair and, in Phase 1, will provide four multipurpose (primarily youth) ball diamonds. When fully developed the complex will include a total of 12 ball diamonds, expanded fair amenities, and a campground. [See the site plans on the opposite side of this sheet.] In both concept and design, Champions Ridge is focused on serving the current and future needs of the youth and families in and around Bremer County.
Why is Champions Ridge needed?
This collaborative project between several youth and adult ball leagues and the Bremer County Fair meets several critical needs which both of these groups have faced:
~Cramped and Outdated Space / Facilities. Both the county fair and our area ball leagues have been growing in numbers and popularity in recent years, yet they have been making do with locations and facilities that are under-sized, over-utilized, and challenging to maintain.
~Frequent Flooding. Both the current fairgrounds (located in southwest Waverly) and many of the youth ball diamonds are subject to frequent flooding. This causes delays, cancellations, and other challenges to providing the events and programming that have been scheduled and planned.
~Safety, Transportation and Congestion Concerns. The mixing of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the current fair site presents serious safety hazards; and parking near the fairgrounds is severely limited. With ball diamonds spread around the city it makes for transportation challenges in getting kids to where they are playing and also introduces risks with the mix of
bike, pedestrian, vehicular traffic.
What other benefits are there to this project?
~Economies of a Joint Effort. With ball leagues and the fair partnering on this project, there are many cost-sharing opportunities that ease the financial burden on both groups. Expenses related to providing parking, roadways, sidewalks, utility infrastructure, and other shared amenities will be proportionately divided between these two entities.
~A Centralized Location. The “all-inclusive” nature of the Champions Ridge site provides a “one-stop” central location for future ball tournaments and other events offered by the Fair Association throughout the year.
~Opportunities for Future Growth. This 150+ acre site allows for growth in both facilities and programming that can be offered at this location. Its high visibility from the major transportation corridors in the area provides incentive for developing new and creative uses of the ball and fair facilities at Champions Ridge.
~Compatible with Waverly’s Long-range Community Development Plans. Waverly’s long term plan calls for a north-south arterial roadway to run along the west edge of this site. Our engineers and site planners have worked with city staff to assure that this transportation corridor is preserved and provides safe access to the site.
~Increased Economic Impact. Champions Ridge offers tremendous potential to become a “destination site” that hosts ball tournaments, livestock shows, outdoor concerts, sports shows, and other educational, recreational, or entertainment events.
Past experience has shown us that the fair and ball events produce revenue, and visitors, that benefit the area economy many times over. The Fair Association and the ball leagues are already developing plans along these lines.
Why the Highway 3 location?
In 2010 a 16-member taskforce consisting of representatives from the Bremer County Fair Board, area ball leagues (youth and adult), area civic groups, and the city of Waverly examined over 25 different sites around the county and evaluated them on at least 8 different qualities including: size and topography, access to transportation corridors, visibility and frontage, availability of utilities and infrastructure, compatibility with adjacent properties, cost, room for future expansion or development, accommodation of both fair and ball events. In the final analysis, the 150+ acre site along the north side of Hwy 3 rose to the top of the list. The city of Waverly has purchased 60+ acres for Phase 1 of the Champions Ridge project, and is on track to exercise the option to buy the remaining acres by Dec. 31, 2016.
Beginning in 2014, the Bremer County Fair Association is purchasing from the city, on a five-year no-interest contract, approximately 40 acres that will become the permanent location of, and owned by (not leased), the Bremer County Fair. The city of Waverly is leasing to the ball leagues (at no fee) the approximately 20 acres being used to build the first quad of ball diamonds. The fair and the ball leagues are sharing in the cost of development the site for occupation; an engineering firm has been hired to prepare construction documents which are now 95% complete.
Why didn’t the fair locate at the County Poor Farm?
This site was carefully evaluated by the Fair Association and the taskforce (see above). Even though the site would have been donated to the Fair, there were several serious concerns with this location: only 10 acres (9 less than the current leased site) would be donated, the remainder would have to be purchased by the Fair at fair market value; a new septic system would need to to be constructed and only one of the buildings there was potentially usable; the lack of services in the area (gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, motels, etc.) made the site impractical for offering fair events and other regional shows throughout the year.
While the Fair Association certainly appreciated the offer of this site, they felt that it was not in the long-term best interests of the Bremer County Fair to accept it.
What is the current status of the Champions Ridge project?
We continue to work on the “quiet phase” of fundraising and prepare for a more widespread public fundraising effort. In addition we are working to make the necessary arrangements and seek the required approvals to begin breaking ground on the site. Our first priority is to move dirt and install necessary infrastructure to prepare the way for building the first quad of multipurpose ball diamonds as well as the essential facilities necessary to host the county fair. Construction plans, successful fundraising, and securing the necessary approvals are just a few of the key pieces that need to fall into place before we can break ground at the site. The fair’s lease on the current fairgrounds ends in spring of 2019, so the fair is working to be ready to host their first fair at Champions Ridge in the summer of 2019. The ball diamonds will need a year of “grow-in” for the turf so the sooner that we can start construction, the sooner we’ll be playing ball at the site. As mentioned, fundraising is a key factor in how soon the site will be ready for occupancy.
Why has it taken so long to get Champions Ridge up and running?
Champions Ridge is a complex project involving several major stakeholders including Waverly area youth and adult ball leagues, the Fair Association, the City of Waverly, area civic groups, and Bremer County constituents (including the Board of Supervisors). We have had many “hoops” that this project has had to jump through, and these take time. Fundraising also is a process of “planting seeds” and nurturing them to the point of “blooming.” Ninety-percent of the work that gets done on behalf of Champions Ridge is done by volunteers. We have been very conscious and deliberate in how we plan and how we use our funds so that we don’t end up with “do-overs.” All our efforts are fueled by the passion and commitment we have for this project! Champions Ridge is governed by a 7-member board made up of three representatives from the Fair Association, three from the area ball groups (youth and adult), and one “at-large” Bremer
county resident. Current members are listed below.
How much has been raised? What needs to be raised?
As of April 2016, we’ve raised a little over $400K in cash and pledges. We have well over a dozen additional grant requests and active donor conversations in the works and these could yield up to another $800-900K. Conversations with contractors and vendors with an interest in this project indicate that “in-kind” contributions could total nearly $500K. To break ground at the site we need at least $1 million in cash/pledges. To complete all of the Phase 1 site plan will take about $3.9 million.
Who are the members of the Champions Ridge governing board?
From the Fair Association: Keven Rasing, Nylene Geerts, Renee Neil
From the ball leagues: Chris McCarville (girls youth ball), Greg Miller (adult softball), Travis Nuss (boys youth ball)
At-large member: Brenda Meyer (Readlyn)
Administrative Counsel: Fred Ribich
Fundraising: General Development Group - Terry & Toni Hinirichs