While the pitch at Veterans Park was once the prime location for adult soccer leagues, those loops have all migrated south to the Steve Omischl Sports Complex, and the grass playing surface closest to the Lakeshore overpass has become the domain of youth soccer leagues.
As youth soccer has taken over on the pitch at Veterans Park, over the past two seasons it has led to some close calls from foul balls originating from the neighbouring baseball diamond, according to a City of North Bay staff report.
Whereas adult soccer saw 22 players on the pitch plus officials, with spectators seated on bleachers nearest to the overpass, now the danger from foul balls from the diamond has increased with three youth fields with 50-plus kids, coaches, and another 100 or so supporters are watching from just off the playing surfaces.
"There could be approximately 150 players and spectators sitting in the area where foul balls land," reads the report.
Moving the baseball diamond, renovated at a cost of $700,000 in recent years is not an option. Three years ago, the complex also received another $850,000 in new LED lighting. Re-purposing the soccer pitch for youth programming is an effective bit of in-filling by the municipality as its use tailed off. Veterans Park also includes the ONR soccer field, east of the baseball diamond, off Judge Avenue.
So, staff recommended and North Bay City Council unanimously approved during Tuesday's regular meeting a contract to Sport Systems Canada Inc. of $129,975 for the supply and installation of baseball field safety netting at Veterans Park during Tuesday.
"Last year the risk of foul balls landing in the area around the youth soccer was identified due to the increased number of players and spectators in the area
where foul balls could be hit," according to the report. "It was determined that an installation of baseball field safety netting between the baseball diamonds and soccer field would reduce the risk of foul balls landing in the area where the youth soccer fields were located. A 40-foot baseball field safety netting will be installed based on Sport Systems Canada proposal."
