UPDATE: 9:01 p.m. April 23. This story has been updated to include the location of the new stadiums.

The University of St. Thomas is creating new ballfields to make room for the baseball and softball teams on campus.

Since the university has risen to Division I in sports, the university’s leadership team has decided to create room for the athletes with upcoming hockey and ballpark stadiums.

The stadiums will be constructed off campus, near Montreal and Cleveland avenues in Highland Park.

The original ballpark, located behind the science building on south campus, had been a shared space between the softball, baseball and soccer teams. The project’s main focus was to expand the space used for baseball and softball team practices and games.

“One of the most important reasons that we’re doing this is to make sure that our women’s softball team has equitable space,” Chief of the President’s office Staff, Amy McDonough said.

The new stadium will host more seats, a concession stand, and an indoor practice facility that student athletes will use, according to McDonough.

“It used to be baseball, softball and hockey, but now it’s just baseball and softball,” McDonough said. “As we looked at all the pros and cons, we determined that hockey would be better off campus. So the project has changed a bit.

Though the plans are still in development, the hope is that both athletes, students and community members will be able to use the ballfields.

On Feb. 28th, the University of St. Thomas and Ryan Co., held a community meeting in the highland neighborhood.

At the meeting, residents of Highland expressed their thoughts on the new ballpark entering their neighborhood.

Towards the end of the presentation, residents had the chance to voice their concerns, some more vocal than others. The concerns included the safety of the roads, transportation, noise, light, sustainability and the preservation of wildlife.

Jim Winterer, a highland resident, is one of many that work collaboratively with Ryan Co., and St. Thomas to ensure that there is compromise within the plans.

“We’re just worried about what’s going to happen to the edge of our neighborhood,” Winterer said.

Most residents felt as though the construction would bring problems, but others voiced how the change wouldn’t be so bad, so long they keep the wildlife that peacefully reside around the ballpark land.

Since the project is still in its early stages, there is no expected deadline for when the stadiums will be completed.

Residents of highland still voice their concerns for their neighborhood, a change this big isn’t something they’re ready for.

“We’re pleased with it. But we’re also going to keep working with them to make sure they don’t forget we’re there,” Winterer said.

Gwynnevere Vang can be reached at vang5129@stthomad.edu