User groups speak out at sports field meeting

The public made it clear that they didn’t want the Annandale baseball diamonds turned into residential, as was proposed in a plan to build new diamonds and sell the land where the existing diamonds sit to fund the development. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

User groups shared their feelings at the last public meeting about a proposal to create four new baseball diamonds in Tillsonburg, while selling the land for the present Annandale diamonds for development.

The meeting, held on Sept. 9, was the third of three meetings about the proposal to create four new diamonds on town-owned property on Mall Road and sell the land the Annandale diamonds are on for residential development to pay for the new diamonds. All three meetings drew enough people to fill the room and sparked lively debate about the proposal. The message that came through loud and clear at the last two meetings is that residents in the Annandale area were not in favour of the part of the proposal to turn the current diamonds into residential space.

With the input sessions complete, a report will be prepared for council about the input garnered. Council has not made a decision, nor have they voted on the development in any way at this point.

Tillsonburg Development Director Cephas Panschow, who has been leading the meetings, started by answering a question about whether rearranging the schedule at the existing diamonds is an easier solution, since they’re unused at  times.

“It’s based on peak demand,” he said. “Now we have people unable to play at the times they want.”

Another pointed out that youth would be unable to ride their bikes to the diamonds, but Panschow said it would be closer for those who live in the subdivisions off Simcoe Street.

Chris Parker, spoke as a member of council, the president men’s slo-pitch, and a member of the town’s recreation and sports committee.

He said there is a possibility of keeping two diamonds at Annandale as there is no playground in that subdivision.

“We need to ensure we have limited impact on the residents there,” he said.

When Parker started as president of men’s slo-pitch in 2013, there were 18 teams. Now there are 30. Teams used to play 24 regular-season games and now have 18 or 19.

“These teams are paying more for less value,” he said.

The teams have adapted by playing at the Kiwanis diamonds with lights as late as 11 p.m., and have Sunday afternoon games – although Sundays are a problem for some players. With the Annandale diamonds, games must be canceled if there is 5 mm of rain earlier that day, which creates scheduling issues. Parker also said the slo-pitch league donated the fencing at the Annandale diamonds.

A resident pointed out that numerous council members have said the new diamonds and the sale of the Annandale property should be separate, and requested that this be incorporated into the survey. Panschow answered that the survey needs to be consistent, but he suspects council will be splitting it into two separate projects.

“This will go back to council,” he said. “Council will provide direction if this gets split.”

Residents also raised concerns about selling land that the developer of the Annandale subdivision donated for parkland.

“If you take something away from a community that was donated, it doesn’t look good,” said resident Gerry Dearing.

Mike Bossy, a director with Annandale Heights, which developed the adjacent subdivision and donated the land, explained that the company donated 3.5 more acres of land than was required for the mandated parkland donation. According to the agreement, if the land was sold, the 3.5 acres needed to be conveyed back to the company. 

“If they take this park, they can take all the parks,” Bossy said.

“This council has repeatedly said they want green space,” Panschow said.

Bossy generated applause from the audience when he suggested, “Let’s get a bylaw that says once land is dedicated as parkland, it stays parkland.”

Panschow explained that the proposal to sell the Annandale land made construction of the new park revenue neutral. Although the baseball diamonds could go ahead without the land sale, he said the town would have to look to other funding sources, including provincial and federal grants.

Stephen Molnar questioned if the land, which is in Norfolk, shouldn’t be used for commercial purposes instead of recreation. He also raised the challenge of youth biking to the new diamonds.

“I can’t fathom the community getting to this facility safely,” he said.

Panschow closed the meeting, noting that turnout at the three meetings is the largest he has seen in his 20 years with the town, and he assured the audience this will show council how important this matter is.