Manson Parks and Recreation Hoping for a Hail Mary on Leffler Field Purchase

The Manson community has reached crunch time on securing the Leffler Field property, just shy of six acres, with the deadline, October 1st, looming ahead next week. The price tag on the property is $1.3 million and the property, according to Manson Parks and Recreation Director, Robin Pittman carries a lot of value in the Manson community.

The Manson Chamber of Commerce applied for grants through two agencies, Chelan County and the state appropriation budget. Chelan County opted in to provide $500,000 worth of funds and the state appropriation budget provided $265,000.

"We just had an appraisal done that tells us as a public entity the real value of the property. There is lead and arsenic in the soil and so we, as the purchasers, would be responsible for cleaning that up. Keeping all that in mind, that brought the value to $628,000 and the Lefflers' are asking for $1.3 million so that gives us a gap of $672,000," said Pittman.

This field has been a staple in the community and the Lefflers' have been extremely gracious to allow the community to use the grounds for activities, according to Pittman. In the past the field has been used as the site for carnivals during Apple Blossom and the rat rod show.

"If we were able to acquire that obviously it would mean we could lock that down for public use," said Pittman. She stated not only would it mean the location could be used for public use indefinitely for carnivals and rat races but in the distant future many possibilities are envisioned such as an amphitheater.