Peace Arch News: New training facility sought at Centennial
Via the Peace Arch News:
New youth training facility sought at Centennial ball park
White Rock South Surrey Baseball Association requests city’s help
Written by ALEX BROWNE on Feb. 19, 2021
The White Rock South Surrey Baseball Association is asking the City of White Rock to consider a proposal for a new baseball batting and training facility at Centennial Park.
Association president Randy McKinnon and members Mark Koropecky and Ray Persaud appeared digitally before the city’s regular council meeting Feb. 8 to discuss the proposal, which would provide an indoor training centre for what has become a year-round activity for the association’s players, who range in age from five to 18.
The current indoor facility at South Surrey Athletic Park is at capacity, they said.
Council unanimously endorsed a motion from Coun. Helen Fathers calling for a staff report on the idea, including how Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) from ongoing development could help pay for a requested $50,000 city contribution (to date, the association has committed approximately $300,000 of its own funds to the project, which comes with a total price tag of $535,700).
The site, city-owned land at the east end of the Centennial Park baseball field, has two open-air batting cages under a shed roof, but these are too cold to use in the winter months, McKinnon told council.
In their place, the association wants to build a “tensile fabric structure” 50 feet wide and 80 feet long, which would house three batting cages.
