Red Deer County council has approved a plan by two service clubs to create a community ball diamonds facility. The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Under the proposal the county would lease 20 acres of a current 158-acre grazing lease at Kevisville on provincial land located at SE 29-35-3-5.
“The Spruce View and District Lions Club and the Gwendale Elks have been searching for a location in the Spruce View area to develop community use ball diamonds,” county manager Curtis Herzberg said in a briefing note to council.
“The ball diamonds at Spruce View are not regulation size and there is no room for expansion at the site. There are two ball diamonds, with backstops and outfield fences, located at the site. The entire 158-acre site is currently leased as grazing lease and the current lessee holder of the site has signed a consent relinquishing 20 acres of the lease.”
The Elks and Lions clubs are proposing the county lease the 20 acres from the province and then sublease the property to both the organizations to operate and maintain the site, he said.
“Both organizations would restore and upgrade the ball diamonds with volunteer labour and equipment. The ball diamonds would be utilized for league play and rentals for tournaments with camping to allow the clubs to raise funds to offset maintenance costs,” he said.
In order to lease the lands from the province, the county would need to make an application for a recreational miscellaneous lease, he said.
“The application fee for the lease is $1,800 and the province may require a $2,000 security deposit from the county. The clubs have requested the county cover the costs for the application fee and security deposit,” he said.
In a letter to the county, the clubs said the plan has public support.
“Feedback from the county over the past year has been very positive regarding this project,” Lions Club president Dan McKnight said in the letter. “The majority of residents are excited to get the project up and running, hopefully ready for use this summer.”
"The ball diamonds would be utilized for league play and rentals for tournaments with camping to allow the clubs to raise funds to offset maintenance costs."Curtis Herzbergcounty manager
