While the new lights at Hendrickson Field will allow local slo-pitch teams to get in some night games, they鈥檒l also help other sports groups, says the former president of the 麻豆社国产Slo-pitch Association (SSPA).
Dave Southam left his executive position to take on the project of installing lights at the ball fields. 鈥淚 stepped down from president so I could focus on running the light project,鈥� he said.
On Saturday, the stakeholders for the lighting project gathered at Hendrickson Field for the official opening as well as a fun game to follow the festivities.
The most obvious gain from the lights will be with scheduling games for the SSPA, which typically represents between 600 and 700 players each season.
The project has been in the works for many years, as the SSPA began applying for some Olympic sport legacy funding to get the lights up and running. When that did not materialize, the group looked to other sources such as federal matching grants.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been shelf-ready for a couple of years,鈥� Southam said.
Ultimately, it came down to the community itself, with the association coming up with half of the $384,000 budget and the District of 麻豆社国产covering the other half.
鈥淭he slo-pitch association helped on fundraising, and fundraising, and fundraising,鈥� Southam said.
The May long weekend tournament, for example, has typically been the biggest fundraiser and attracts about 40 teams, including some from the Fraser Valley, the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast.
The association also took on a project a couple of years ago for some site-clearing related to the 麻豆社国产Valley Music Festival.
In total, the SSPA raised approximately $160,00 in cash donations and also attracted a lot of in-kind support, which Southam estimates at $35,000 in value, for a labour geotechnical engineering report, electrical work, machinery use and other construction equipment.
The District of 麻豆社国产also stepped up to the plate. Southam has worked closely with district capital project manager Matt Simmon in recent years.
鈥淢att was able to do the day-to-day stuff with his staff,鈥� Southam said.
He had long been optimistic about the district鈥檚 support because its recreation plan highlighted the need to add lights at Hendrickson Field.
鈥淚 was a big supporter of the sports and recreation master plan,鈥� he said.
Mayor Patricia Heintzman said that while adding lights took longer than hoped, she was pleased to see it come together and that namesake Gary Hendrickson, one of the movers behind the project, was able to make the opening event. The game that followed even allowed Heintzman to break out her old ball glove, which she had not used in years.
She credited groups like the slo-pitch association, as well as other groups like the Nordic club, 麻豆社国产Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) and youth soccer, for getting behind these kinds of infrastructure projects.
鈥淚t happens over and over in the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he slo-pitch association really stepped up and showed leadership鈥�. These volunteers put so much time and effort into things.鈥�
Southam said that the SSPA was able to get the support of other sports groups in the community because they recognized having more time for slo-pitch teams to play at Hendrickson will free up space in the community for other sports.
鈥淚t鈥檚 taking off the pressure for some of the fields,鈥� he said.
Up to now, the organization has relied on school fields for extra space, but these can pose obstacles such as goal posts or drainage ditches.
鈥淲e鈥檝e played there because it鈥檚 the only place to play,鈥� he said.
