Douro South Park is going to get a scoreboard for the ball diamond.
Brett Condon led a delegation before Douro-Dummer council at the regular meeting of September 22. Condon’s request was simple. Douro Minor Softball would like a scoreboard at the ball diamond to help with the various tournaments hosted throughout the season.
Condon told council that the organization has hosted various tournaments over the past two years under the umbrellas of the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) as well as the Ontario Rural Softball Association (ORSA).
Condon explained that these tournaments bring quite a few people to the park between fans and other teams from the area.
This influx of people according to Condon helps out small business as people shop, eat and stay local when participating in tournaments.
Condon said that if they want to keep young athletes interested they have to offer facilities that people want to attend.
Condon recognized and thanked council for the work that has been done to improve the facility in the recent past including the new stairway to the diamond from the parking lot, new bleachers as well as the landscaping.
Condon explained that is not just the kids tournaments that take place at the South Park facility, but they also host ball tournaments during the Douro Doings which attracts hundreds of players.
Condon said they presently try to announce the scores over the P.A. system which is less than ideal.
Condon stated “I believe the next step is a scoreboard at South Park.”
Douro Minor Softball is not suggesting the township take on the entire project without help. Condon told council that over the past two years the organization has raised $6,500 with a goal of $10,000.
The money raised has been done through the hosting of tournaments where the kids sold 50/50 tickets, canteen proceeds, individual donations and hopefully some new sponsors.
Condon said that beyond cash donations a number of people have offered to donate their time. Some of the work they have volunteered to complete is a trench from the power panel to the board, install the power cord to the sign and install the concrete base.
The entire project is estimated at $20,000 and the ask from the organization is that they pay $10,000 towards the scoreboard and the township pick up the other $10,000.
Condon also suggested if council approve the project that they start work this fall in order to be ready for next year’s ball season.
Mayor Heather Watson asked if the treasurer could look to see if there was any money remaining in the Community Grant Fund for this fiscal year.
Joshi responded that at a quick glance there appears to be approximately $4,000 left in the fund at present.
Councillor Ray Johnston said that this was way over due and it is a plus that Douro Minor Softball raised that much money on their own.
Johnston went on to say that there may be a new council very soon, but he is in favour and if there are not enough funds this year it should be budgeted for next year.
Councillor Tom Watt echoed Johnston’s sentiments about the project and asked where the scoreboard would be located as there are some big hitters at some of these tournaments and wanted to ensure the board would not get damaged.
Condon told council that it would be positioned in left centre field and also that for an extra fee they can get the safety package which would protect the board.
Deputy mayor Harold Nelson asked if the scoreboard came with a warranty to which Condon replied five years.
Codon requested that if approved they would like to start work this fall using the money raised by the organization and the municipality could put their money in the pot once approved through the budget.
Nelson also asked if there was any funding available at this time for such a project
.CAO Todd Davis said that he is not aware of any funding available at this time, but did mention that the grant obtained for the ice surface at the Douro Community Centre has opened once again, but this is for projects between $200,000 and $10 million. Davis promised that staff would keep an eye out for grant opportunities.
Nelson made a motion that council ask staff to investigate any grant availabilities and authorize that work on the project begin this fall and that the remaining balance be taken from next years budget.
The motion passed unanimously.
