Own a Great Ballpark: Power Aid Park North of Elkville

When Dennis Bastien designed and built what is now Power Aid Park north of Elkville it was truly a Field of Dreams, an expensive undertaking that some say mirrors the Indiana ballpark where the movie "League of Their Own" was filmed.

A high quality undertaking by a high quality man and his family who wanted young people across Southern Illinois to have some great wooden bat experiences close to home.

There was enough thought into the complex that it could easily be a home to something like the Frontier League or the travel baseball circuit.

Bastien brought unconditional detail and discipline to the project, insisting that it be a home to wooden bats and baseball cleats that wouldn't tear up the seamless beauty of the natural turf.

Over the years it has been home to some great games and tournaments, but found itself competing with places like a travel ball circuit ballpark in O'Fallon or Rent One Park in Marion.

In recent months, Bastien has placed the largest part of the four-field complex on the market with agent Daniel Harsbarger, the same agent that has the Elks lodge building apartments in his portfolio.

The asking price: $595,000 for the three fields on the back side of the park, along with between 10 and 15 acres it sits on, an outbuilding, batting cages, etc.--even some farm ground.

The larger stadium facing the highway is not yet part of the package, but could be.

And, the reason for stopping to think about it is simple.

Bastien can stand along Rt. 51 and say "I did this."

And, it's something very great and something that's once in a lifetime.

You don't want to give those kinds of things up.

His hand is on every detail, every light switch, dugout, batter's box and canvas base in that complex.

Are there possibilities for investors?

The Power Aid sponsorship is said to have expired, but it or something like it can be renewed.

There are absolutely possibilities for sign sponsorships, the hosting of tournaments or as a 20-tournament stop for the travel ball circuit. There are facilities to be leased, concessions to sell or something like a park district to organize that would own and manage the property with the help of enthusiastic investors or parents who have always wanted a Field of Dreams in their life--for amateur players, their kids and grand kids. With the right person or persons it's, well, a money maker.