By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
If you build a new Field of Dreams baseball diamond they will come – but you have to scope it out first.
That was the decision reached by Chatham-Kent council at a recent meeting. It followed a recommendation from administration to explore the possibility of constructing a new diamond, with the preferred site adjacent to Chatham’s Fergie Jenkins Field (FJF).
Spearheaded by the Chatham-Kent Sports Hall of Fame and its partners, the Field of Dreams Committee has pledged to raise $2.5 million for capital costs for the project.
The goal is to provide an additional field to accommodate baseball for ages 14 years and up, as well as creating a barrier-free space where accessible Challenger baseball can be played.
However, the matter sparked a lengthy discussion, with several councillors saying that choosing a location is premature.
The green space is currently used for soccer, and some councillors, including Chatham’s Amy Finn, said going forward with the design beside FJF is premature prior to securing new playing fields for the soccer teams using the space.
Finn said she’s also concerned that the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers of the Intercounty Baseball League may want to expand, impacting the Field of Dreams.
“I can’t approve it as it sits right now,” said Finn. “There’s are too many unanswered questions for me.”
Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey and South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle also expressed caution regarding choosing a location, prior to hearing from affected user groups.
“I worry that this potentially pits different athletic groups in our community and leagues against each other, so I worry if we are taking away the soccer fields, that could potentially create some conflict,” Storey said.
Doyle said he thought making the approval was rushing things and that it should be postponed pending a parks and recreation master plan slated for completion in 2025.
Council voted for the municipality to sanction the group’s fundraising efforts and will spend $35,000 for a landscape design at the preferred site. However, Rob Pollock said that if a different location is chosen for the Field of Dreams, the design can be reconfigured and the money won’t be lost.
Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said supporting the proposal is a good way to address the growing interest in baseball, as well as supporting a community partnership.
“In no way does this report or recommendation immediately put soccer usage at risk,” he said, noting other fields are available.
“By any means, I don’t think it’s a nice to have, it’s a must have,” McGregor told council.
Chatham Coun. Conor Allin said supporting the Field of Dreams is a “no brainer,” noting the new diamond will facilitate high level tournaments, encouraging people to come to Chatham-Kent.
Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew, who urged her fellow councillors to get behind the project, said it’s not about pushing out soccer.
She admitted she was a bit “stunned” by the councillors who want to wait for the master plan before giving it approval.
Instead, Crew stressed, the municipality needs to support the Field of Dreams Committee in its fundraising efforts moving forward.
“I’m asking you to support this,” the councillor said. “We want people to participate and when they’re stepping up to the plate to raise this money for us, for the community, we need to embrace them, support them and encourage them,” said Crew. “Not discourage them.”
Crew said, pointing out that it was community partnerships that built FJF and it’s one of Chatham-Kent’s notable assets.
