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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-09-01 . ."". ,~ ..~' THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File # ~ Res. # C!Ii-lcg-r1! / Date: MARCH 5, 2001 Report No.: WD-09-01 By-Law # Subject: BOWMANVlLLE NEWCASTLE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION CONCERNS WITH PARK SERVICES Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-09-01 be received; 2. THAT Council approve, in principle, of developing a major outdoor park facility and that a Steering Committee be created to assist with the development concept; and 3. THAT Bowmanville Newcastle Baseball Association be advised of Council's decision. REPORT 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Bowmanville Newcastle Baseball Association (BNBA) bas been utilizing storage space at the Visual Arts Centre since 1986. Last year, Council approved the tennination of the lease arrangements and returned the space to the Visual Arts Centre Board effective November 1, 2000. 1.2 Council approved an alternative location for the storage of equipment to be reviewed on a year to year basis. 650 , ~,,-,' REPORT NO.: WD-09-01 PAGE 2 1.3 The President of the BNBA appeared before Council regarding opportunities that have to be acted upon in order to support a program that involves 38 teams and approximately 500 children. The BNBA has numerous challenges: . Lack of adequate baseball fields/shortage of all types of ball diamonds . Clubhouse/training area for officials and players . Storage space for equipment In this report, staff will address each of these issues. 2.0 COMMENT 2.1 Lack ofBaseball Fields The Municipality of Clarington has only one regulation baseball diamond for bantam age and above. This facility is located at the Harvey Jackson Park in Kendal and is heavily used. There are two other baseball diamonds in Clarington located at Soper Creek Park in Bowmanville and Orono Park in Orono. The BNBA also uses various school diamonds and municipal parks to accommodate house league, tee ball and four pitch. Diamond availability is limited and overall expansion of all leagues and practices is severely restricted. It is important for the Municipality to look at an overall plan to incorporate youth and adnlt league expansions, sports camps, tournaments etc. as soon as possible. As the Municipality is developing conceptual plans for major open space developments in the Newcastle and Courtice areas, it is important for Council to consider expanding the scope of those developments to incorporate a 50 to 70 acre community park development if possible. This proposed park wonld consist of multi-sports fields, spectator seating, playgrounds, playcourts, change rooms, concession area and parking for 300 cars. This development could also feature a special interest clubhouse, which would be attractive to all community organizations. This is the most responsible in tenns of park development since 651 ..- REPORT NO.: WD-09-01 PAGE 3 it will effectively assist with long term maintenance and will meet the increasing demand on outdoor sports. The immediate concem is that there are no plans to acquire the required land through subdivision agreement at this time. Ifland can be purchased, the earliest for the first phase of the development of the park is a minimum three (3) years away. If Council is in support of the development of a major community park concept, staff will continue to review land purchase opportunities and report back to Council once a suitable parcel has been found. Council may wish to appoint a steering committee of outdoor sports users to meet regularly in identifying potential park services and to assist in the preparation of a conceptual master plan. 2.2 Storage Facility When the BNBA approached Council in December 2000, they indicated that a residential property located at the south end of Memorial Park was available for purchase. The BNBA felt that this would satisfY their need for storage as well as a clubhouse. Staff agreed that the purchase of this property could also be a benefit to the Municipality to accommodate off street parking when the building was turned over to the Municipality. By purchasing this building, BNBA or the Municipality may have to invest significant dollars in upgrading the building to meet applicable Building Code requirements and the performance level of the building. It is recommended that this property not be purchased for the use by BNBA and that all efforts will be focused on the development of a major community park which could accommodate some type of clubhouse. In the interim, BNBA would be encouraged to use one of the many municipal community buildings that could be made available for training and promotional days. 652 , -...-- REPORT NO.: WD-09-01 PAGE 4 2.3 Storage Space The BNBA have been very fortunate to have had the use of the space at the Visual Arts Centre for the past 14 years. Council has approved temporary arrangements at the Kendal Community Centre, which is on a year to year basis. AI; we know, this location poses several problems for the BNBA. The distance from Bowmanville will restrict volunteers from effectively utilizing this space. The Municipality does not have any available space in the Bowmanville area that could be assigned temporarily. The AI;sociation will have to explore what other arrangements may be available in the Bowmanville area after the 2001 season. Until a community park is developed, the BNBA may decide to approach Council for an operating grant to assist them since they have not utilized the grant process for over 14 years. 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1 Staff are recommending that Council support the development of a community park concept to incorporate a multi-field sport complex and that Staff take appropriate action to initiate this venture as soon as possible. 3.2 Staff are recommending that Council create a Steering Committee of representatives of outdoor sports groups to assist in the development of the conceptual master plan once land has been obtained. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, ~v'~ Stephen A. Vokes, P. Eng., Director of Public Works Q~~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer FH*SA V*ce 27/02/01 653 , .....-- REPORT NO.: WD-09-01 PAGE 5 Pc: Bowmanville Newcastle Baseball Association C/o Mr. R. Morrison, President P.O. Box 346 Bowmanville, ON LlC lJS 654