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Kilar project still in contention for grant

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Treyton Kilar

WHITEWATER — Treyton Kilar’s Field of Dreams is back in the running for a $50,000 Pepsi grant, nearly two months after a technicality kept the project from eligibility.

Voting continues throughout September, and up to 10 projects could each receive a $50,000 grant. Organizers in Whitewater are trying to raise money to build a youth baseball field at Starin Park in Kilar’s name.

Kilar, 6, was killed one year ago today when Scott Dragotta, 44, ran a stop sign at Highway 20 and County N in Walworth County, hitting a car driven by Kilar’s father, Mike.

Dragotta was arrested on drunken driving charges. He was later found guilty on 14 criminal charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Family and friends over the last year held several fundraising events to help build a memorial baseball park. Plans for the field include a 225- to 250-foot fence, dugouts, lighting, batting cages and about 145 parking stalls. The Whitewater City Council has not yet approved the project.

The cost of building Treyton’s Field of Dreams is estimated at $474,000. About $155,000 has been raised so far.

This is the group’s second try at earning money through the Pepsi Refresh Project, which offers grants to community projects throughout the nation. Treyton’s Field of Dreams nearly won $250,000 earlier this year, but it fell behind in votes just hours before the contest ended.

Organizers attempted to enter the program for a $50,000 grant in July, but a technicality caused Pepsi to reject their application. Whitewater Parks and Recreation Director Matt Amundson said the video accompanying the application was longer than allowed.