A new indoor sports facility has moved a step closer to reality in Ladner.
This week council approved a proposed construction and lease agreement with the Ladner Minor Baseball Association (LMBA) to build a new indoor baseball training facility at Cromie Park.
The 14,300-square-foot facility is to be located at the southern edge of the park, between the existing baseball diamond and the current all-weather field. It will also include exterior access public washrooms, meeting space, a concession and storage space. The city’s parks and recreation department will also be able to use the $3.7 million facility to host public programs.
The City of Delta will provide $2.5 million in funding with the remaining funds contributed by the LMBA.
There are to be no financial liens, mortgages or charges levelled against the building or lands to fund the construction of the project, says the city.
City staff have been working with the association and outside legal counsel the past 18 months to refine the project plan and complete the required legal agreements.
The construction and lease agreements include an initial 10-year term, with an option to renew for another 10 years. The LMBA will oversee the design and construction, after which the city will assume ownership.
A lease will be granted to LMBA who will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the facility’s interior, while the city will be responsible for maintenance of the facility’s exterior.
“This project represents a collaborative effort between the City of Delta and Ladner Minor Baseball Association to establish a facility that addresses the evolving needs of Delta’s sports associations. An investment into sports and recreation infrastructure is an investment in our youth, which contributes to a healthy, active, and thriving community. I am proud of the impact that this facility will have as a hub for sports activity and training ground for the development of our local athletes,” said Mayor George Harvie in a news release.
The 2021 Cromie Park Master Plan originally called for two separate buildings within the park, a new baseball training facility and a standalone fieldhouse. Over the past 18 months, city staff and LMBA have collaborated on revisions to consolidate the two amenities into a single building.
The scope of the project now includes a concession, public washrooms and meeting space, originally envisioned to be housed in a separate building, in addition to the batting cages and training space of the baseball training facility.
The LMBA’s financial contribution will be recognized in the form of a pre-paid lease over a 20-year-period.
Noting his association has secured its share of the funding, LMBA president Todd Allen told the Optimist combining the concession and other features maximizes both funding and construction, resulting in a better project.
He said they expect to have ceremonial groundbreaking in early April and expect the building to be completed this fall.
The LMBA will have preferred use of the facility for the sole purpose of operating the sport development centre, while the city’s programming of the space will be at the city’s sole discretion.
The city notes the project marks a significant enhancement to the park’s master plan, with the final phase set to include the addition of a new third baseball diamond upon completion of the indoor training facility.
