LAC LA BICHE - The almost-completed baseball field at the new Bold Center sports fields — meant to replace the outgoing, historic main baseball diamond at the downtown Lac La Biche Recreation Grounds — will be too small for older players if the current design plan goes ahead.
As the shale material for the diamond's infield is ready to be installed, along with the outfield grass, it has been identified that while the 300-foot distance to the outfield fence is appropriate, the infield bases are only 70 feet apart - not 90 like the main diamond. The 70-foot distance meets field requirements for players peewee-age (U-13) and below, but is considered too small for older levels of play.
In recent years, the main baseball diamond has hosted league-play and tournaments for all ages of players including older midget-level (U-18) teams, as well as adult game play.
"It was never designed for the U-18 level"
— Lac La Biche County Associate CAO, Recreation and Community Services Darrell Lessmeister
The very recent discovery of the smaller base-lines came as a surprise, even to stakeholders and decision-makers who have been discussing the new Bold Center sports fields for years.
"I was under the impression we wouldn't be limiting any teams from playing on the diamond," said Lac La Biche County councillor Lorin Tkachuk who has been part of the sports field planning committee for two years.
The municipality's recreation boss, however, said the new baseball diamond was always planned with younger players in mind.
"It was never designed for the U-18 level. It was designed for up to the U-13 teams," said Darrell Lessmeister.
The Bold Center sports fields — which include the baseball diamond with a 300-foot centre-field, two softball diamonds with 275-foot centre-field distances, a full-sized football field, bleachers, a running track and a community campsite — have a current price-tag of more than $16 million. Planned since 2017, the fields are expected to be ready for community use later this year.
While the last-minute change for the baseball diamond infield can be looked at, says Lessmeister, there could be some challenges and financial implications when it comes to the irrigation and infrastructure already in the ground.
If the changes are going to happen, they need to happen now, says Tkachuk and other members of Lac La Biche County council.
"There could be budget implications, but I'd rather make the changes now rather than when the grass is already put in."
Out with the old
The push to increase the baselines has been discussed in recent days with members of the Lac La Biche Minor Ball Association. The same group currently has a petition circulating in the community to keep the main baseball diamond in the downtown location.
The petition and discussion over changing the size of the new diamond is part of an ongoing debate over the removal of the main ball diamond from the downtown recreation area. The latest discussions come on the heels of a 300-person survey that showed two-thirds support for removing the diamond from the recreations grounds to make room for more leisure-based activities in the new master plan for the McArthur Park area.
Following the recent survey — as well as a year of public consultation and design planning — the main diamond is slated to be removed within the next two to three years, making way for more green space, walking trails, indoor event buildings, a bike skills park and a skatepark in the new McArthur Park plan.
New diamond plan
Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi, a long-time baseball player and coach who has voiced his passion about keeping the main baseball diamond downtown, said he was "a little disappointed" to learn about the smaller infield size this far along in the planning stages.
Councillor George L'Heureux, also saddened to see the historic ball diamond moved, encouraged the municipality's administrators to fix the baseline problem. He said the old diamond had served the community well for more than 75 years because it was built right the first time.
"It would be a big mistake not to do this one right," he said.
A plan to increase the new diamond's base distances will be put into place before further work is done to complete the diamond. Lessmeister said he would be presenting the revised plan very soon.
