Officials pan baseball plan in town

HOWELL - Local real estate entre-preneur Jack Krupnick is trying to drum up support for a "Field of Dreams" baseball complex on the township-owned Harms property. So far, municipal officials have been cool to the idea.

Mayor Joseph DiBella said officials are not actively pursuing the sale of the Harms property. The mayor was discussing the baseball proposal during a recent Township Council meeting.

The Harms tract is between West Farms and Georgia Tavern roads. The land was recently purchased by the township for about $12 million.

Krupnick represents the investment group Ball Four Management, LLC. He said the 150-acre Harms parcel would be an ideal location for an extensive sports complex. The group's principals are Steve Wikoff, Gary Costello, Thomas Waterman and Al Kooistra.

"The people who know about it, like it," Krupnick said of the baseball idea. "It would be a big boon for the tax rate. [The township] could build a new town hall or whatever they need. They have these acres that they can use to make money for the town."

Krupnick said a sports facility would include baseball fields, ice skating and swimming facilities.

For now, Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki said, he will continue to review business inquiries as he does on a regular basis.