Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Baseball Association President Bob Skillings presents the Johnson Park History Center design concept to the New Ulm Park & Recreation Commission Monday. The commission unanimously approved the concept that includes a museum, kitchen and viewing deck at Johnson Park. The baseball association plans to privately raise construction and furnishings estimated to cost $1.4 million.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Park & Recreation Commission unanimously approved a Johnson Park History Center design concept Monday.

The design now awaits approval from the City Council and allow the New Ulm Baseball Association to begin a capital campaign for additional funding from individuals and grants.

Last April, New Ulm Baseball Association President Bob Skillings presented the idea of a history center within the Johnson Park baseball facility at a park and recreation commission work session.

Since then, a professional design concept was created based on baseball association intentions for the facility including a museum, viewing deck, a large exterior viewing screen, kitchen, meeting and storage space on the hillside north of the third base bleachers.

The baseball association’s goal is to privately raise all funds for the facility including maintenance and operations. The project is estimated to cost $1.4 million including construction and furnishings.

“This design solves sight line issues. If funding efforts are successful, the City of New Ulm won’t have any cost,” said New Ulm Park & Recreation Director Joey Schugel.

The City of New Ulm would own the building as it is on city property. An operating agreement with NUBA would be required defining insurance, utilities, interior/exterior maintenance, capital improvements and rentals.

“Our baseball association is one of the best organizations for volunteering. We’ve been around since 1939,” said Skillings.

He said the facility would include an ADA ramp between and bleachers and history center.

“We want fans to access the building during ball games. It will have a separate entrance on German Street,” Skillings said.

“That’s a big project. It would be a great asset, a nice addition for New Ulm,” said Commissioner Jim Jensen.

Skillings said there is a lot of Brown County baseball history on the New Ulm Baseball Association website.

“We want to show this history. My thought is to not charge for museum admission.” he said.

Commission Chairwoman Carisa Buegler thanked Skillings for his volunteer efforts. Project concept approval came on a motion by Jensen, seconded by Jeff Gulden.

The commission unanimously authorized staff to submit a $6,000 grant application to the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council for the German Park summer concert series.

Funds would be used for marketing and promotional material, band compensation and other free park activities including the Puppet Wagon Show and Rec on the Go. Approval came on a motion by Kurt Johnson, seconded by Amy Johnson.

Staff was unanimously authorized to submit a $246,000 Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, motion by Kurt Johnson, second by Jensen.

If awarded, funds would be used to develop a concept to expand the pollinator park on North Broadway from 2.64 acres to 22.64 acres using city-owned land beginning July 1, 2026. No matching funds are required.

Donations of $2,000 to the Riverside Environmental Learning Center and $5,000 to the Sioux Valley Gun Club-Trap Range from the Izaak Walton League were approved, motion by Gulden, seconded by Kormann.