Discussions were left open by the District of Port Hardy after a delegation appeared before council to improve the baseball fields at Park Drive.
According to Trish Fossum, the fields need repair and upgrades as numbers grow in the community, but also for safety reasons.
Fossum also said to council during the Oct. 14 meeting that making improvements would elevate the district’s ability to host more and be a leader in the Triport region.
“We’re kind of in the best position in the Triport area, in regard to our number of diamonds, and the quality of them,” she says. “Being a leader in that regard would be awesome.”
According to the letter submitted to council, improvements include better drainage and levelling the surface, providing a safer and softer diamond for players, as well as expanding the infield by 10 feet.
Fossum says other improvements would include emptying port-a-potties on a regular basis.
Councillor Brian Texmo says he agrees, and sympathizes, with Fossum’s assessment of the field and the condition it’s in and is unsuitable for older players to have games.
“There’s no question that the field isn’t suitable except for teaching some super young kids,” he says. “As soon as you get into games the infield is dangerous and rock hard, and the outfield is swampy.”
Texmo says he is going to advocate for finding a solution to bring the Park Drive field back to life and make it safer for all members of the public to play.
According to Fossum, improvements to the field would align with the district’s Official Community Plan.
