And we promise you we're going to talk about some of the Phillips ball fields there and we have Jody Podmolik with us to do that
We have an header on for I don't know a year or more. So it's been over a year
Yeah, to update it
We had kind of communicated a few months ago, but it never happens. So it's good to see you. Good to have you in studio
And we're talking about of course the big development there right by the football fields that people have
Seen developed over the last
I don't know when did that start? When are the whole project start for you and TJ? Well that whole project spend let's see
Probably 18 years. Oh really? Yeah, so really heavy in the last five years. Yeah, we have the real transformation
The last five years
So talk about what is the entire complex? Is there a name for the entire complex?
So the entire complex is called forward park. Okay
And then we just have the three fields
The gardens the volleyball courts dog park
Walking trail and all that that we're adding
Okay, all right, and then we have three ball fields. Yeah, they're right
So
Just talk a little bit about what it took for this all to come together for those may
Maybe that haven't ventured off the main road there in Phillips and seeing that beautiful facility
Because you had a lot of a lot of companies businesses individuals invest time and money to make it happen right? Yes, we did
It all started
I applied for a grant with forward bank
We received that and then started from there
We tried to use all the local businesses we possibly could so everybody
Pretty much was done in price county except for the bleachers
We bought the bleachers, but we put them together. So I still consider that as you know price county work
So sure tons of volunteers make this happen
TJ and I put in countless hours
Um, but we have a lot of great volunteers that help out regularly and then we have the coaches
um
Concession standworkers on pires all that stuff to keep the program going strong
Yeah, so the three fields it's is it two softball one baseball is that we have two softball one baseball
The large field can actually be a little league or softball. We just have to move the pegs in the bases
Um, right now we added co-ed softball to it
So we have it set for that for the rest of the season. Okay. All right. So what are um
What we're one or two of the biggest obstacles as you
Go into this there's so much that goes into having a field being stable
The dirt the ground. I mean you can't just take a farm field and say oh it's a baseball field now
I mean there's so many things that go into not only making it happen
But then making sure it's sustainable for years otherwise the dirt will wash away and stuff like that
So what were a couple of the biggest challenges? I think if you and TJ had to work through for this
I would say the biggest challenge is just coordinating everything
Um, there was a few projects going on at the time so we received some fill
We had to raise the one end of the park up um over 18 inches
All right, yeah, just to make it level um
The whole reason that started is every time it rained we'd have to cancel a game even if it was just a few sprinkles
Because there is no drainage and it just sat with a puddle
So that was our first
thing we were going to
Do is fix the drainage and then it just kind of went from there. It went from there
Yeah, well you have a passion for this but TJ has a passion for this right?
I mean he's he loves the grounds keeping and keeping everything absolutely loves it and does a fantastic job
Yeah, and that's if it's if a facility like that is going to be maintained and look the way it is
You have to have someone like TJ who's just kind of obsessed with doing that right has to happen right?
Yeah, he's obsessed with that. I'm obsessed with the concessions and
You know doing all the organizing and all that stuff
So it works out well. It's a good partnership between us. Yeah, so have we had tournaments there?
Or is that kind of the future of what we're looking at there's also a 12-year tournament this year
we had
Four teams down
We're looking at hosting like the Northwoods tournament for 10 and 12-year-olds next year
And then just doing some more local stuff. So okay, all right
And of course
That's turned into just a great complex area because whereas you have the baseball field that's right there in the football field
And now you have that um the high school softball team eventually will come there. I would guess right
In their own field, but it's in the works
I think it just kind of depends on how everything goes out. It'd be great to have them down there
Then we kind of have baseball and softball right there together. Yeah. Yeah, that would be that'd be fantastic
It's if you haven't done so folks
Just go over by the high school football baseball field there and take a little drive down where the traditional little league fields are because if you haven't been there in a few years
You'll be amazed now. I I played there coach there with my son
When it was the old school one you know the old bathrooms and all that stuff. Oh don't remind me of that and I just
I drive through there and I just I just I went through a couple weeks ago with my wife
I just stopped and I just said wow
I said this is just what a transformation. Well, thank you. Yeah, just absolutely fabulous and and I'm sure you have
big dreams in the future of banging like you said the Northwood's
Tournament and and other events there because it is that quality of a
Of a complex to to host some pretty pretty nice events, right? Yeah, the reason I like it is because it's off the beaten trail
And it's nice and quiet. Yeah, yeah exactly exactly
um and the
The funding for it does that continue or is that is it pretty much done? Oh
We could just fundraise forever
We do a couple big fundraisers
We start off
Well, it'd be March we do the Winter Golf Classic
It well this last year we did it at Westwood Golf Course and then we do the
calendar raffles so we have the kids sell raffles and
That money goes back into the facilities right now. We're doing our mom
um
fundraiser
People can go on our Facebook page and see how you order the moms and then they pick them up and then the funds go to our program
And then the last one we kind of do is we work the Packer games. We work five games this year
You're we're given a booth and then
Certain monofons come to us and then like all the tips come to us
So that's a really great fun time because the atmosphere at Lambo Field is
Unbelievable. Yeah, you get the same section every time where they can move your own
So when we first started it was moving all over so we never knew what we were doing this year
This year is really nice because we're on the main level and
We're in the same booth all five games. We're at the last half so
It's kind of nice when we have them
We did the family night a couple times and people from phillips would
We're at the game so they stopped by the booth and say hi, and it's just kind of cool
Yeah, that is that is pretty cool
And the people that go over obviously some of the parents and
Yeah, you have to be 16 or older to do it
Yeah, um, so yeah, we have pretty mostly adults and then we've had a really good
crew of kids that came the past couple years. So yeah sad thing is though they've all graduated
So we need to
So she has to find some new people but yeah, no last year and we went it was it was a lot of fun me and three of my friends
So yeah, it was yeah, Iliana you got to play some games over there. I'm sure at the fields, right? Yeah play
Oh, yeah, yeah, be a part of that and enjoy the field and help out a little bit too, right? Yeah
Yeah, what what a what a great treasure it is and I I'm knowing
Having talked to TJ and how that's progressed. I'm sure there are more dreams that he wants to do right
He's actually not going to stop, right? Right. So our goal is his goals and my goals are a little bit different
So we gotta get those on the same page a little bit
Um, so we're working on the batting cage
AC carpets gonna come down and glue that down for us. We're hoping to do that this week
Um, we have the pavers to hopefully finish up this year
Um, we're gonna add the warning tracks to at least
Hopefully two of the softball fields this year, so it's a little bit safer
Um, we have the walking trail. We're gonna continue working on
We added co-ed softball and volleyball down at the park this year, so it was really
Excuse me. It was really nice getting the facility used by more people different people
Um, it's very family orientated. So that's really nice. It's I love watching
People bring their kids. They throw blanket down kids just sit and play and then you know the parents get to have a good time too
So yeah, very good. All right. Well, very good. Jody. Thank you so much for the update on the forward forward field
Forward park. Forward park. Okay. They're a big contributor
Obviously two up a beautiful facility when you're in Phillips go check it out over there by the football
Field you will be amazed and even more things to come. Yeah, we actually
Had a sign made that took a lot of work. I had to go through all the state stuff
So it's actually ballpark drive as a road
Oh really? It leads back there. No, yeah
You have to jump on first street for a block or a house with and then
It switches to ballpark drive. So those are all the little things that we've been doing that people don't really see things
Yeah, you think you just put a sign up, right? Oh, it's not just putting a sign up
We put signs up on the state highway and that was a task to get that done
Yeah, it's done people know where the park is and they can go there and have a good time
Well, thank you to you and TJ and all the folks involved for doing that because it really is a
treasure that'll be
That'll be used for
For years and maybe generations to come here. It's it's a fantastic
Legacy to have so it's it's pretty cool. So thank you. You bet you. Thank you, Jody
We'll have you on again
Hopefully in less than a year with an update. That sounds good
So if you're at the Packer games the last five home Packer games of the year
Look for the Phillips crew. They're manning one of the concession stands on the lower level
Yeah, I can't remember our numbers like one thirty two or something. So yeah, you'll see him
You'll see the logger orange you bet. All right. All right, Jody. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good to see him