The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About000.01 - Project Overview and Partnership Framework 1105 REEVES RD. WEST, SUITE 6 BOZEMAN, MT 59718 406-581-5730 www.headwatersmt.net Page 1 of 4 March 6, 2026 City of Bozeman Planning Department 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT 59715 Email: planningtech@bozeman.net Re: Project Overview and Partnership Framework Diamond 8 Baseball Complex Dear Mayor, Commissioners, and City Staff, On behalf of the Diamond 8 project team, we are pleased to introduce the proposed Diamond 8 Baseball Complex, a community baseball facility planned in northwest Bozeman between Baxter Lane and Oak Street. The project represents an opportunity to deliver a significant recreational amenity for the Bozeman community through a partnership between private investment, local youth athletics organizations, and the City of Bozeman. The Diamond 8 facility is envisioned as a regional-quality baseball complex consisting of eight fields and supporting recreational infrastructure, designed to serve youth baseball, community recreation, and regional tournament play. The facility will provide a long-term home for Bozeman Baseball while expanding the City’s park system in one of the fastest-growing areas of Bozeman. Importantly, the Diamond 8 project is structured to deliver a future public park using a public-private partnership model. The complex will be constructed privately on privately owned land, utilizing private capital and privately managed construction. Upon completion, the park is intended to be dedicated to the City of Bozeman as a public park facility, allowing the community to benefit from the infrastructure while minimizing the up-front capital burden on the City. This approach provides an opportunity to deliver recreational infrastructure years sooner than traditional municipal park development timelines would otherwise allow. Project Overview The Diamond 8 site encompasses approximately 50 acres and is designed to include: • Eight baseball fields (two high-school sized fields and six youth fields, which can also be utilized for softball) • Batting cages and training areas • Concessions, restrooms, and support buildings • A clubhouse and team facilities • Shared use paths and trail connections • Parking areas and tournament support infrastructure • Stormwater management facilities • Landscaped park areas and spectator spaces Page 2 of 4 The facility is designed to support daily youth baseball programming while also accommodating large tournament events and regional competitions. Parking demand analysis conducted as part of the Master Site Plan indicates that peak tournament events could generate parking demand in the range of 430–495 vehicles, which will be accommodated through a combination of on-site parking, on-street parking along Laurel Parkway and Harvest Parkway, and designated overflow areas during large events. The site is also located within the Gallatin Valley Urban Transportation District, allowing the facility to be incorporated into future transit planning as the surrounding area develops. Development and Delivery Model The Diamond 8 Baseball Complex is structured to be designed, permitted, and constructed privately, with the intent that the completed park will ultimately become a public asset. The development model includes: • Private design and engineering of the park facilities • Private procurement of construction contractors • Private and public capital investment in park infrastructure and facilities • Dedication of the completed park to the City of Bozeman This approach allows the project team to move quickly through design and construction while ensuring the facility ultimately becomes part of the City’s public park system. Development will occur in phases beginning with site preparation, utilities, roadway infrastructure, and field construction, followed by completion of buildings, trails, and final park amenities. Operations and Programming The Diamond 8 facility is intended to serve as the primary home for Bozeman Baseball, a youth baseball organization that provides programming for hundreds of local athletes each year. The project team proposes that Bozeman Baseball serve as the primary operational partner for the complex. Responsibilities may include: • Coordinating seasonal programming and league play • Managing tournament events • Operating the clubhouse and batting cage facilities • Assisting with routine (and baseball surface-specific) facility operations and scheduling Early discussions with the City Parks Department have explored a hybrid operational model in which the City owns the park while Bozeman Baseball assists with certain operational and maintenance responsibilities. This model has been successfully implemented in other communities where youth sports organizations partner with municipal parks departments to operate specialized athletic facilities. It is also anticipated that Bozeman School District will utilize one high school sized field for their recently adopted high school baseball team, and at least one softball field. Discussion regarding operations and logistics of use are ongoing. Page 3 of 4 Public–Private Partnership Framework The project team is currently working with the City Parks Department to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will outline the long-term framework for ownership, operations, and maintenance of the park. Key objectives of this framework include: • Allowing the Diamond 8 facility to satisfy parkland dedication requirements associated with future development in the area • Ensuring the park is designed and constructed to meet City park development standards • Clarifying ownership of land, facilities, and equipment • Establishing operational responsibilities and scheduling coordination • Identifying maintenance responsibilities and long-term capital replacement considerations This framework will help ensure that the facility remains a sustainable public asset while allowing community organizations to play an active role in its use and stewardship. Regional Recreation and Economic Benefits Beyond serving local youth athletics, the Diamond 8 facility has the potential to function as a regional baseball venue capable of hosting tournaments and special events. Facilities of this type provide several important community benefits: • Expanded recreational opportunities for local youth • Attraction of regional sporting events and tournaments • Increased visitation to Bozeman during tournament events • Support for local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses • Strengthening Bozeman’s reputation as a regional recreation destination As Bozeman continues to grow, facilities like Diamond 8 will play an important role in supporting the community’s recreational infrastructure and quality of life. Opportunities for City Participation Because the Diamond 8 facility will ultimately become a public park owned by the City, the project team is seeking partnership with the City of Bozeman in delivering key infrastructure associated with the project. Potential areas of City participation include: • Impact fee waivers associated with park infrastructure • Participation through the City’s Capital Improvement Program • Use of parkland cash-in-lieu funds generated by other developments • Participation in state and federal recreation grants • Partnership in regional infrastructure improvements including trails, utilities, and roadway improvements This partnership approach allows the City to leverage substantial private investment while ensuring that the resulting facility meets community needs and becomes a long-term public asset. Conclusion The Diamond 8 Baseball Complex represents a unique opportunity to deliver a major recreational amenity through collaboration between private investment, community organizations, and the City of Bozeman. By combining private capital with targeted public participation, the project can provide a high- Page 4 of 4 quality public park facility that will serve Bozeman residents for decades while strengthening the City’s growing park system. We appreciate the City’s engagement to date and look forward to continued collaboration as the project moves forward. Please contact us with any questions. Sincerely, Garrett Schultz, P.E. Headwaters Engineering, Inc. www.headwatersmt.net H:\2128\002\DOCS\SITEPLAN\MASTER SITE PLAN\Response to Conceptual Review Comments_MSP.docx