WATERLOO -- Members of the Waterloo Women's Softball Association are trying to avoid a force out.

Association president Deb Van Roekel, backed by several other players, addressed Mayor Tim Hurley and City Council members Monday about their concerns a proposed youth baseball stadium at Cedar River Exchange Park would force them from their home of more than three decades.

"The WWSA is not in favor of this move for a number of reasons," said VanRoekel.

The city spent $9,500 this year for Craig Ritland Landscape Architects to develop a preliminary master plan for a top-notch, six-diamond youth baseball and softball complex in the park, which is estimated to cost about $3 million.

WWSA members were informed of the plans in February and told they may need to move their programs to the men's softball complex at Hoing-Rice Fields as early as next spring.

VanRoekel said the women's association is concerned about having to play on the larger men's fields, increased league fees and scheduling conflicts on the limited number of fields at Hoing-Rice.

She said the WWSA has spent thousands of dollars on field improvements and put in numerous volunteer hours to build up the fields at Exchange Park since former Parks Director Leonard Katoski led them there in the late 1970s.

Only five of the 19 women's softball teams surveyed by the league said they would move to Hoing-Rice, while several others were "iffy" about the idea, VanRoekel said.

Hurley said an Aug. 23 meeting is being scheduled with all interested parties to discuss the situation.

"There's nothing imminent," Hurley said. "It's taken some life … but it's just being investigated."

Supporters of the youth complex hope it could be a premier facility capable of hosting regional tournaments and attracting teams from across the state and beyond. Currently, most of the city's youth ball diamonds are scattered at various sites throughout the community.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.