Through community philanthropy, with the support of local businesses, families, fans, & community advocates, the campaign committee led by the Grand Forks Area Baseball Association plans to renovate and renew the iconic Kraft Memorial Field baseball stadium.
Kraft Memorial Field
Reconstruction Campaign
Help Us Restore This Historic Field
Contact Information
GF Parks & Rec
Foundation
Email
Additional Info
Informational Brochure >
Letter of Intent >
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About the Complex
The History
Established in 1986 and named after the late UND Baseball Coach Harold “Pinky” Kraft, Kraft Memorial Field was a result of the pooled resources of the Grand Forks Park District and the University of North Dakota (UND). Before 1986, the Park District had built a small baseball field on the current site, with only portable bleachers for seating and no rest rooms or concessions, and UND had only one field on the western edge of campus that was lost to expanding classroom facilities.
Annual Visitors
* at OXFORD SPORTS COMPLEX & KRAFT MEMORIAL FIELD
GF Park District Baseball Program
- Average 600 Annual Participants
- June – July | Monday – Thursday
GF Park District Softball Program
- Average 275 Annual Participants
- June – July | Monday – Thursday
UND Softball Program
- 6 – 8 Spring Season Home Games
- 10 – 12 Fall Season Home Games
- TV Coverage by MidcoSN
- Live Streamed Online by UND
- All Spring/Fall Practices at Oxford
- 20-25 Athlete Roster
GF High School Baseball
- Home to Central & Red River JV & Varsity Baseball Teams
- Each Play 12+ Home Games/Year
- 15-20 Athletes Per Roster
UND Club Baseball
- Plays 6 – 8 Home Games in the Spring & Fall at the Complex
Babe Ruth Baseball Program
- 5 – 8 Babe Ruth League Teams Play All Games at Oxford
- Roughly 100 League Participants
- 3 Babe Ruth Traveling Teams Play 6-8 Home Games at Oxford
- 12-15 Athletes Per Travel Roster
GF Youth Express Fastpitch Softball Program
- Practices & Plays All Games at Oxford
- 200+ Annual Participants
GF High School Softball
- Home to Central & Red River JV & Varsity Baseball Teams
- Each Play 12+ Home Games Per Year
- 15-20 Athletes Per Roster
Legion Baseball
- 2 Teams Based at Kraft Field
- 10 – 12 Home Dates Per Team
- Average 100 Spectators Per Game
- Host 3 Tournaments Each Summer
Cal Ripken Baseball Program
- Play 6 – 8 Travel & League Games at Oxford
- 200 Annual Participants
Campaign Overview
Phase I - Completed in 2023
Phase one of the project focused on replacing the infield turf at Montgomery Field at a cost of $755,000. With a generous grant of $366,000 from the Land & Water Conservation Fund, a $100,000 donation from the Blue Line Club, and $309,000 from the Park District budget, the replacement of the infield turf at Montgomery Field began in the fall of 2022 and was completed in the summer of 2023. After the turf’s installation, Montogomery Field hosted the 13U North Dakota State Tournament.
Phase II - In Process
Phase two of the Kraft Reconstruction Project focused on the construction of a new grandstand and replacement of the infield turf at Kraft Field. In spring 2022, staff submitted a match grant request to the State of North Dakota and was awarded a $605,000 match grant to demolish and replace the grandstand. In the summer of 2022, the campaign received a major gift from Oxford Realty, a pledge of $500,000 for the renaming rights of Apollo Sports Complex. The campaign also received a significant $150,000 donation from the Blue Line Club and a Garrison Diverson Grant for $75,000.
Grandstand Construction
An architecture firm was selected for the grandstand project in the fall of 2022 and project construction bids for the grandstand came back in the spring of 2023 totaling $2.4 million. With the $605,000 State of ND Facility match grant, the generous $500,000 donation from Oxford Realty and the $150,000 donation from the Blue Line Club, a Garrison Grant of $75,000, $150,000 from the GF Parks & Rec Foundation Neel Fund and Giving Hearts Day Fundraiser, as well as $900,000 from the GF Park District operations budget, work on the grandstand was able to begin in the summer of 2023. The new exterior grandstand structure was completed in the fall, bleachers were installed over the winter months, and the interior of the grandstand was finished in the spring of 2024.
Infield Turf
The second part of phase two is the replacement of Kraft Field’s infield turf at a cost of $226,000. With a generous Garrison Diverson grant of $57,250 and $169,000 from the GF Park District capital & betterment fund, replacement infield turf is scheduled to be installed at Kraft Field in June of 2024.
Donor Recognition
Donors of $1,000 or more will have their names displayed on a Donor Wall at Kraft Memorial Field. Friends of the sport, family members of players, local & regional business, foundations and individual donors may also be honored or memorialized with gifts to renovate this iconic youth baseball field. Special recognition will also be provided on the donor wall to individuals who name the GF Parks & Recreation Foundation in their will with a special designation to this project. Gifts to support the renovation of this ballpark may be made over a period of time. Bank reoccurring automatic withdrawals may also be set up through a checking or savings account on a monthly or annual basis.
Giving Clubs
- Hall of Fame Club $250,000 and up
- Diamond Club $100,000 – $249,999
- Grand Slam Club $50,000 – $99,999
- Home Run Club $25,000 – $49,9999
- Triple Club $10,000 – $24,9999
- Double Club $5,000 – $9,999
- Single Club $1,000 – $4,999
More Ways to Give
Recurring Gifts
Automatically and securely have gifts deducted from your bank account. You choose the amount and duration of your giving.
Matching Gifts
Easily double your gift if you or your spouse’s employer participates in a matching gift program. Contact your HR Department for information.
Stock Gifts
Donate gifts of appreciated securities and you may be eligible for a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock, while avoiding the capital gains tax.
IRA Gifts
Donors age 70 1/2 or older can transfer up to $100,000 annually from their IRA directly to the GF Parks & Recreation Foundation without subject to income taxes on distribution.
Planned Gifts
Bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, endowments and beneficiary designations of life insurance or retirement plan assets are simple yet impactful ways you can leave a legacy.