Cambridge council steps up to the plate, foots $3 million bill for ball diamond upgrades

The city of Cambridge is playing ball – covering the cost of accessibility upgrades at the Kin 1 Ball Diamond at Riverside Park. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports.

The city of Cambridge is playing ball – covering the cost of accessibility upgrades at the Kin 1 Ball Diamond at Riverside Park.

On Tuesday, council voted in favour of fully funding the $3 million project with debt.

The city had hoped about half of that cost would be covered through grants and donations. However, the city’s application to the Jays Care Foundation was unsuccessful.

“They did encourage us to apply again this year because we will be closer to construction and/or in construction at the time,” said Placemaking Capital Projects recreation manager Shane Taylor in the meeting.

Instead, the city will have to borrow money to complete the project, enacting the debt by-law in the process.

“The $3,025,000 equates to approximately $3,823,000,” noted the city’s acting chief financial officer, Sheena Pawliwec. “That’s over a 10-year term assuming an average annual interest rate of about 4.5 per cent.”

The ball diamond is often used by Buddy League, a growing adaptive baseball program that’s been advocating for change.

“A lot of athletes do come here in their wheelchairs,” said Monica Small, whose son plays in the league. “There is not a clear path, it’s actually gravel. And so a lot of the wheelchairs will get stuck.”

The upgrades would see new pathways, better bleachers, and artificial turf infield, along with accessible dugouts and bathrooms.

“Making sure that it is fully accessible and fully inclusive is really, really valuable and really most important for ensuring that everybody can get off the sidelines and into the game,” Cam Linwood, league co-ordinator for Buddy League, said in an interview with CTV News.

As for additional funding, Taylor said the city is working on it.

“We don’t have anything firmly locked up at the moment but we have been having some conversations and those conversations do seem to be going positively,” he said in the meeting, adding staff would be applying for another round of grant funding.

The city of Cambridge has also launched a fundraising campaign encouraging private donations from residents, groups and businesses.

Small urged anyone interested in donating to come and see what Buddy League is all about.

“Hang out with us. Just spend some time with us. I’m telling you, you’ll fall in love with the sport. You’re going to fall in love with the athletes, and you’re going to fall in love with this community.

”Work to make the washrooms accessible is expected to start soon. Field improvements could begin after the end of this baseball season and be finished by summer 2026.

With files from CTV’s Krista Simpson