A proposed barrier-free baseball diamond in Chatham is back on track, but with some revisions and limitations.
The Chatham Dream Field Project hit a snag in October because of skyrocketing costs, but a new Dream Field committee, headed by the Chatham Minor Baseball Association, could start fundraising again for the revised diamond if Chatham-Kent councillors approve the change at their meeting on Monday night.
A staff report showed the project will now proceed in multiple phases rather than as a full build, the committee will fundraise only for the detailed design and the initial phase of development at this time, and there's no commitment to fundraise for future construction phases.
Administration also noted that the initial phase of the diamond's construction will not include accessible artificial turf, field lighting, washrooms, grandstands, and scoreboard.
"The Committee confirmed support for the original vision of the Dream Field. However, adjustments to the project scope were necessary to reduce anticipated capital costs to a level that can be realistically supported through volunteer-led fundraising. The revised project is now planned as a single construction phase that will deliver a new municipal ball diamond suitable for high- level youth and adult play," staff wrote in the report. "Administration will explore opportunities for an accessible ball diamond, whether as part of future capital phases of the Dream Field project or through other potential initiatives."
According to the staff report, the facility’s footprint remains the same as the original concept, and includes the loss of the Kiwanis Stadium soccer field and 3,500 sq.m. removed from the Memorial Arena parking lot.
