[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The home of the Madison Mallards baseball team will likely see extensive renovations beginning in August, with at least $800,000 in funding from the city.

Due to recent record-breaking attendance, Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman said Warner Park, also known as the Duck Pond, will undergo between $3.5 and $4 million in renovations by June 2008, including a complete reorientation of the field and increased seating capacity.

However, the only part of the stadium that will be completely torn down, Stenman said, are the bleachers.

“It’s not really totally a financial motivation for us,” Stenman said. “We look at it from a fan’s perspective first, and we want to allow for more comfortable seats.”

According to Stenman, the city of Madison conducted a study in 2004 to determine the amount of useful life left in the park’s bleachers. Since the seats will only be able to withstand five more years of wear and tear, the City Council voted to commit $800,000 to replace the bleachers.

But their age is not the only reason the park’s seating areas need renovation. On a sell-out night, Stenman said the park will draw more people than the 7,500 seats allow, and they will often have 1,800 people in the park with no place to sit.

“We’re trying to decrease our dependence on standing room only,” Stenman added. “That’s the hope with the renovations, and also to make the seats better and more comfortable to keep people excited about baseball in Madison.”

And to increase the comfort of the seats, the park will be reoriented to place home plate where center field is currently located. By making the majority of the bleachers face east instead of west, Stenman said there will be better sight lines, and spectators will be more comfortable with their backs to the setting sun.

Ald. Brian Benford, District 12, said getting input from community members is an important part of the renovation process of Warner Park. Benford, whose district includes the park and its surrounding neighborhoods, held a public informational session earlier this month to get input on the plans from his constituents.

“The biggest sentiment we heard is that folks are very supportive of the Mallards,” Benford said. “If the Mallards are going to pick up a lion’s share of the cost, I think the community would be very supportive of that.”

Benford said some concerns from the community included excessive noise resulting from increased capacity, parking problems and traffic concerns. Vehicle traffic is not expected to be a problem, Benford added, but areas of potentially dangerous pedestrian crossings and congestion need to be examined.

The steering committee is also looking at ways to increase parking in the area without taking away green space, Benford added. But overall, he said the venue would still not be large enough to garner any major safety concerns in the community.

“As the Mallards continue with their success, it brings new people up to that part of town — hopefully that will transfer to increased patronage for small businesses,” Benford said. “It’s a great venue, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg … so I’m really excited.”