Following several past acts of vandalism to minor sports sheds, the town has taken a big step towards building a more secure Sports Field Tournament Building that will give user groups a safe place to store their equipment.
The new facility, which could be the size of a small 1,000- to 1,500- square-foot house and cost up to $250,000, will also provide permanent washroom facilities and a concession. The facility will be built in the current open space between the Innisfail and District Historical Village and the ball diamonds.
At town council's May 9 regular meeting, Henry Wong, the director of community services, presented a report asking council to approve $26,560 for the hiring of Williams Engineering (Canada) to design and provide construction drawings for the new facility. Wong was seeking council's approval as only $15,000 was set aside in this year's budget for the design work.
Council unanimously approved the request and will make the necessary budget adjustment to cover the extra $11,560.
Mayor Brian Spiller said the design process would take between six and eight weeks. He also noted that council has already set aside $100,000 in this year's budget for the construction of the new building, but its final cost could be at least double that figure.
The mayor said the shortfall can be covered through a provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program grant, which will match up to 50 per cent of the total cost. Provincial regulations state the applicant must be a user group, and not the municipality.
As for addressing the needs of local sports groups, Wong said he has been in discussions with them and they will be involved in the design process. He said while the primary users will be local baseball, softball and slo-pitch groups, the facility could also be used by other minor sports groups as well, such as local horseshoe and tennis players.
Spiller said the time has come for the town to have a proper sports storage facility for users, acknowledging recent acts of vandalism and thefts to wooden equipment sheds, as well as the lack of proper washrooms and the ongoing need for a permanent tournament concession facility.
“We understand a lot of these groups use their own homes for storage, which takes away their garage space. This way they can all keep it in one space and we will have a permanent building with some outdoor storage doors for them to get in and to keep their stuff locked up properly,” said Spiller. “There will be a small concessionary that can be opened up for tournaments, and bathrooms that we can open and close as well.”
The mayor said there are no plans to create a facility with meeting rooms, adding the intent is to create a structure that will have maximum practical benefits, but few, if any, frills.
“We are not finishing a house. We won't be having a carpet. It will just be a cement structure with locked out doors,” said Spiller. “It should be cost effective that way.”
He said another similar facility could be built in the future behind the Arena where other sports fields are located.
Mayor Brian Spiller
"We understand a lot of these groups use their own homes for storage, which takes away their garage space. This way they can all keep it in one space."
