A new season in a thoroughly upgraded Noel Booth Community Park got underway Saturday, April 12, with hundreds of players, parents and supporters turning out for the official opening ceremonies.
91原创 Fastball Association officially opened the new season Saturday
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Township Council approved $7.65 million for improvements that include new lighting, backstop upgrades, dugout upgrades, foul line fencing, home run perimeter fencing, new bridges, seating pathways and accessibility upgrades.
Work on the renovations was delayed due to weather problems, but it is nearing completion, said Jeff Clegg, president of 91原创 Fastball.
"We had that horrible snowstorm and cold snap early in the year," Clegg explained. "And then, unfortunately, we've just had a significant amount of rainfall and that inhibits the crews from doing their upgrade work"
Spectators can expect an enhanced viewing experience, Clegg added.
"You don't have to be all huddled behind the backstop, you can go into one of the outfield areas and watch the game."
Clegg praised the Township for creating "fantastic" viewing berms using excavated soil from the new drainage and irrigation work.
Once the work is finished, Noel Booth will be home to four "top-notch, upgraded ready-for-play diamonds" that Clegg predicts will rank among the top three best playing fields in the Lower Mainland.
Clegg believes the new fencing will inhibit the vandalism the park has experienced over the last couple of years, instances of kids or adults on vehicles coming into the park and tearing up the turf.
Township Mayor Eric Woodward and other members of Township council, attended the opening.
"It's great to have the improvements from Noel Booth almost completed in time for this season," Woodward said.
"As registrations continue to rise each and every year, not just in south 91原创 but especially in north 91原创 as well, it's great to be a part of these opening ceremonies ," Woodward told the 91原创 Advance Times.
