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Grand Rapids committee approves shared stewardship agreement for Sullivan Field

Grand Rapids committee approves shared stewardship agreement for Sullivan Field

Rule Changes Grand Rapids, MI local

Fans of Valley Field nonprofit takes on daily operations of historic ballpark as $5.75M renovation nears completion

October 6th, 2026: Committee approves user agreement

Overview

Updated Oct 13

Grand Rapids' Sullivan Field, a city-owned ballpark built in 1937, is getting a new operator. The city's Community Development Committee approved a three-year user agreement with Fans of Valley Field, the nonprofit that led the ballpark's $5.75 million renovation, to manage daily operations.

The deal gives the nonprofit responsibility for maintenance, activation, fundraising, historic interpretation, and museum and concession management. The city keeps final authority. Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2026, and organizers hope to hold a ribbon cutting on April 15, 2027.

Why it matters

The agreement decides how a city-owned ballpark is run and whether a nonprofit can keep it financially viable.

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Key Indicators

$5.75M
Capital campaign goal
Final fundraising target for the Sullivan Field renovation, increased from $4.25M after structural issues were found in the grandstands.
$5.75M+
Capital raised
Fundraising goal met with more than 1,600 donors contributing.

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People Involved

PS
Paul Soltysiak
Co-founder and executive vice president, Fans of Valley Field
Leading the nonprofit's stewardship of Sullivan Field

Organizations Involved

Fans of Valley Field
Fans of Valley Field
Nonprofit
Partner in shared stewardship of Sullivan Field

Nonprofit that led the $5.75 million renovation of Sullivan Field and now manages daily operations under a user agreement with the city.
City of Grand Rapids
City of Grand Rapids
Municipal government
Owner of Sullivan Field, retains final authority

City government that owns Sullivan Field and approved the user agreement with Fans of Valley Field.

Timeline

1937 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 6th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Committee approves user agreement

    Latest Agreement

    Grand Rapids committee approves three-year user agreement with Fans of Valley Field for Sullivan Field stewardship.

  2. Capital campaign goal met

    Fundraising

    Fans of Valley Field announced the $5.75M fundraising goal was met, with more than 1,600 donors contributing.

  3. Construction resumes after wood rot discovery

    Construction

    Construction resumed at Sullivan Field after crews discovered wood rot in the grandstands, requiring additional restoration work and raising the project cost.

  4. City approves $1.45M for final phase

    Funding

    Grand Rapids commissioners approved an additional $1.45 million for the final phase of renovations, covering new bullpens, a new field, landscaping, and a museum building.

  5. Restoration project breaks ground

    Construction

    Fans of Valley Field and the city begin renovation work on the ballpark, including grandstands and a museum.

  6. Community input on renovation plans

    Public Engagement

    City holds community open house and survey to gather input on Sullivan Field renovation concepts.

  7. Voters approve Parks Millage

    Referendum

    Grand Rapids voters approve a parks millage that provides funding for Sullivan Field improvements.

  8. Valley Field constructed

    Construction

    The historic baseball park, later known as Sullivan Field, is built on Grand Rapids' westside.

Scenarios

1

Fans of Valley Field renews stewardship after successful term

Possible Resolves by Oct 5, 2029

Discussed by: City of Grand Rapids newsletter

The nonprofit meets its maintenance and fundraising obligations, activates the space with events and programming, and the city exercises the three-year renewal option in 2029. The partnership continues with Fans of Valley Field managing daily operations.

2

Nonprofit struggles, city reassumes operations

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 5, 2029

Discussed by: Local observers

Fans of Valley Field can't meet its obligations under the agreement, or fundraising falls short. The city reassumes day-to-day operations before the term ends.

3

Agreement lapses without renewal

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 5, 2029

Discussed by: Local media

The three-year term ends in October 2029 without renewal. The city reassumes full operations of Sullivan Field, and Fans of Valley Field's role ends.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1980-present

Central Park Conservancy (1980)

New York City's Central Park was deteriorating in the 1970s. A group of citizens formed the Central Park Conservancy in 1980 to raise private funds and eventually took over management of the park from the city.

Then

The Conservancy raised hundreds of millions of dollars and restored the park's landscapes and facilities.

Now

The model of nonprofit stewardship of public parks became a template for cities nationwide, though it raised questions about private control of public spaces.

Why this matters now

Sullivan Field's arrangement mirrors the public-private stewardship model, with a nonprofit managing daily operations while the city retains ownership and final authority.

1990s

Rickwood Field restoration (1990s)

Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, built in 1910 and the oldest ballpark in America, fell into disrepair. A nonprofit, Friends of Rickwood Field, formed to restore and operate it.

Then

The group restored the ballpark and reopened it for events and baseball games.

Now

Rickwood Field became a model for historic ballpark preservation, showing that community nonprofits can sustain aging sports facilities.

Why this matters now

Like Rickwood, Sullivan Field is a historic ballpark being preserved through nonprofit partnership, with the group taking on operational responsibilities.

Sources

(7)
+1
City of Grand Rapids City of Grand Rapids WGVU News City of Grand Rapids MLive FOX 17 WOOD TV