Nanaimo city officials will pitch $175,000 toward Nanaimo’s first lit ballpark.
City council agreed to commit $175,000 to light up Mariner Field at the Serauxmen Sports Fields if the Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association clinches a grant this year from the Toronto Blue Jays Field of Dreams program.
Councillors also opted to provide a letter of support and directed staff members to work with the ball association on detailed requirements for the lighting project.
Councillor Bill Yoachim said he’s pleased with the motion, calling it long overdue and adding “we have a history of producing great baseball players and now we will get more players out of the city with the lights.”
Coun. Ian Thorpe said it’s an “excellent partnership and it’s something that’s long overdue in our city,” as he wished the association the best of luck with its application.
Mike Holyk, president of the ball association, believes the city’s financial support puts it in a good position to receive the Blue Jays grant.
The ball association has already updated its application for the dollars, with hopes of winning $150,000 to help light Mariner Field – a project expected to cost upwards of $325,000.
Last year, the organization failed to win the grant money because it didn’t have municipal support, prompting representatives to appeal to the city for support earlier this month.
Holyk said previously that lighting would create a different experience for ball players, as well as provide benefits for the city in sport tourism and expanded baseball programming.
Illuminating the field, for example, would add 21 hours a week or seven games or practices for athletes. There would be the ability to use the field for training younger age groups, and allow the association to expand use, “so it’s small infrastructure but it’s a huge boost to the association and baseball in town,” Holyk said.
“We are very appreciative of council’s support.”
A city report shows while other outdoor sports have a number of lit fields, that’s not the case for baseball and fastball.
This new project, supported by city staff members, is expected to cost more than $325,000 with geotechnical and environmental work, and will be allocated to the 2017 capital budget.
Lighting poles would also be permanent and ultimately impede use of soccer on the field in the future. The ball association expects to find out whether its grant is successful in April or May.