Former Field of Dreams owners worried about proposed plans

DYERSVILLE -- For decades, two different families owned the property where the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams" was filmed.

The Ameskamps owned left and center field, and the Lansing Family owned the rest. But in 2007, the Ameskamps sold their portion to the Lansings.

Now, the Lansings have agreed to sell the entire parcel. The details of the pending sale have not been disclosed, but the reported asking price was $5.4 million. Developers Mike and Denise Stillman plan to build a 24-field baseball and softball complex on the property and are trying to secure state tax incentives for the project.

Wayne Ameskamp said when his family sold their portion of the property, he never dreamed anyone would undertake such a project.  His family still lives nearby, and he's unhappy with the plans for the land.

Ameskamp said his main issue is a creek that runs along the baseball diamond and through nearby properties.

"I feel the water is going to run off the creek faster then it did when it had hay and corn in it," he said.

The Stillmans said they will address flooding concerns.

"We would absolutely, 100 percent have all the neighbors involved. Especially with the engineering issues because we've never lived there so we don't know what happens when a 100 year rain comes, " Denise Stillman said.