Copeland Park Photo Gallery (Updated Nov. 12)
La Crosse, Wis. - Renovations continue at Copeland Park as part of several improvements planned by the La Crosse Loggers and UW-La Crosse. An artificial turf playing surface on the infield, in foul territory, and on the warning track is being installed. The artificial turf playing surface is the first of several facility improvements envisioned by the Loggers and the Eagles.
Anticipated projects include installation of a video board, renovation of dugouts, and construction of batting cages. All facility improvements will be funded entirely with private resources; no taxpayer dollars will be used. Fundraising for these additional projects is ongoing. Barb and Dave Skogen, founders of Festival Foods, agreed to donate $300,000 in support of facility improvements at Copeland Park on July 30.
Copeland Park hosts approximately 200 events each year, including more than 125 games not involving the Loggers or UW-La Crosse. Other major users include La Crosse Central High School, Western Technical College, American Legion baseball, and the Stars of Tomorrow. Other local high schools and youth leagues also make significant use of the facility. All will benefit from the artificial playing surface, which drains quickly, minimizing the risk of canceled games due to inclement weather and reducing the length of rain delays. Another benefit of the turf will be significantly reduced maintenance costs; currently, the Loggers re-sod the infield at Copeland Park at least once, and often multiple times, each year.
In May 2012, UW-La Crosse Athletics and the La Crosse Loggers announced a new partnership. The Loggers agreed to provide an annual donation to support UW-La Crosse Baseball, which had university funding for its head coaching position terminated in 2009. In exchange, UW-La Crosse agreed to assist the Loggers in raising funds for needed improvements at Copeland Park, a City of La Crosse-owned facility that the Loggers have called home for the club's first 11 years.
