Candidate Responses

Hello, thanks for reaching out with your questions, providing the Needs Assessment Report, and offering me a forum to respond.
This is an issue with which I have a personal connection. Over several decades, I have played slo-pitch, two-pitch, fastball, and orthodox baseball here in Chilliwack. I have played on many of the fields discussed in the report and have seen first-hand both the importance of the local ball community and some of the limitations of our existing facilities.
Having reviewed the report, I believe it makes a strong case that there is a shortfall in the number of safe, suitable, and available ball diamonds in Chilliwack, particularly for adult play. The number of people participating, the reported waitlists, the limitations of many existing fields, and the anticipated loss of the Meadowbrook diamonds all suggest that current capacity has not kept pace with the growth of our community. I also know that the number of diamonds that may appear on a list of available spaces for ball and the number that are actually suitable and available are two different things. I remember getting our league schedules and looking it over hoping that some fields wouldn’t be assigned to us because of their size or condition whereas others did make the game more enjoyable.  A field that is too small, unavailable to adult leagues, unlit, in poor condition, or located too close to roads and neighbouring properties does not necessarily provide meaningful capacity or user enjoyment.
In principle, I agree that this is something the next Council needs to address. I would want Council to work with City staff, Chilliwack Slo-Pitch, minor ball organizations, the School District, First Nations, and other interested partners and stakeholders to verify current and projected demand and determine the most effective response. Some of the short-term recommendations in the report appear worthy of serious consideration, particularly improvements that could address immediate safety concerns or allow existing facilities to be used more effectively. Protective netting, lighting where appropriate, parking improvements, and cooperation with the School District may offer ways to increase capacity while a longer-term plan is developed.
The proposal for a dedicated complex also deserves proper consideration. Before committing to a particular size, location, or design, I would want to understand the land requirements, construction and operating costs, partnership opportunities, effects on neighbouring properties, and the degree to which a new facility could serve both adult and youth organizations as these are legitimate concerns that all residents of Chilliwack should share. A phased approach may ultimately be the most practical option, but that would need to be informed by a thorough feasibility and needs assessment before any commitments or actions can be undertaken. The potential for sport tourism should also be part of that assessment. A well-designed complex could create opportunities to host regional and provincial tournaments, bringing visitors to local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. However, those potential benefits should be supported by realistic projections and considered alongside the facility’s primary purpose of serving local residents.It goes without saying that recreational facilities are an important part of a healthy and connected community. I have seen how they provide opportunities for physical activity, friendship, competition, and belonging at every stage of life. Having benefited from Chilliwack’s ball community myself, I understand that these leagues offer much more than simply "games on a field”. Although I am not prepared at this point to back a particular facility or expenditure without the requisite information, I do find that the concerns raised in your report are legitimate and should not be ignored. If elected, I would support bringing the relevant organizations together, establishing a clear picture of the need, considering the implementation of some immediate improvements, and developing a realistic plan for addressing the longer-term shortfall.
Thank you again for reaching out and for the considerable work that went into preparing this report. I would be happy to learn more from those directly involved in operating the leagues and maintaining Chilliwack’s ball community. I look forward to continuing this conversation.

As a candidate for Chilliwack city council, I would definitely be in favour of supporting a new softball complex that would accommodate adult games as well as the capacity to host national tournaments and events, and provincial and regional championships. I agree with your Slo-Pitch Needs Assessment that such a facility would bring economic benefits to the community through facility rentals, hotel and restaurant revenues, and increased economic activity generally. You state that Tourism Chilliwack has identified sport as a key growth area and I agree with you that Slo-Pitch complex would support that plan. It's great for community building to have adults out playing slo-pitch after work and in evenings. It's a healthy, family-friendly environment that benefits the whole community and shows children and young people that sport is for everyone. 
I know that there are serious land constraints and that adult-friendly fields have been lost. As a councillor, I would promote working with partners, such as First Nations communities, to find suitable space to build a new softball complex. I'm excited about this opportunity!

Thanks for giving us all a chance to respond. Recreation is very important to me and one area I'm keen to dig in on in our City. Both of my boys are really enjoying playing baseball in Chilliwack.
One of the things that I would like to do as councillor is see increased coordination among user groups that share facilities (eg. baseball diamonds, school grounds and indoor facilities such as the Landing). There are other baseball organizations in Chilliwack such as Chilliwack Minor Baseball and examples of multiple leagues in other sports as well.
I really appreciate the level of thought that has gone into your report. As you've outlined there are significant challenges with net new lands of the size needed for baseball without going into ALR or First Nations land. A partnership with First Nations could be a great first step which the City and Chilliwack Slo-Pitch could discuss. I would personally like to ensure that all options to take advantage of existing field area such as schools and under-utilized City parks are exhausted first. Perhaps there are even opportunities to better utilize the space at Heritage Park now that the City has taken over management again - though I understand it is on ALR and may have restrictions.
I would look forward to hearing more about this as a councillor and seeing how the City can help grow your leagues.

Thank you for reaching out and for sending me the Facility Needs Assessment. I took some time to go through it, and I appreciate the amount of work that has gone into documenting the issue.
I absolutely recognize that Chilliwack needs more sports fields, including fields that can properly accommodate adult slo-pitch.
Sports and recreation are important to me. I have been involved in local youth sports and have seen first hand how much organized sport brings to a community. It isn't just about the game. It gets people active, brings families and friends together, creates friendships and gives people a connection to their community. I believe those opportunities should continue from childhood right through adulthood.
What stood out to me in your report is that this isn't simply a request for something new. Chilliwack has grown significantly while suitable ball diamonds have actually been lost, and the existing leagues are already at capacity. A waitlist of more than 50 teams tells me there is real demand that isn't currently being met. 
I would support the City actively exploring a future dedicated softball complex. That means seriously looking at suitable land, costs, funding opportunities and partnerships with organizations, the School District, First Nations and other landowners where appropriate. I also like the idea in the report of looking at a phased approach rather than assuming everything has to be built at once. Starting with four diamonds and building toward a larger complex could be a realistic way of increasing capacity while being responsible with taxpayers' money. 
I would also not want the long-term discussion to prevent us from looking at things that can be improved sooner. Lighting, safety netting, improvements to existing fields and parking are all practical issues identified in the report that are worth looking at while a larger solution is explored. 
There is also a bigger opportunity here. A well-designed complex could allow Chilliwack to host regional and provincial tournaments, bringing players and families into our community and supporting our hotels, restaurants and local businesses. 
I can't promise today exactly where a complex should go or what the final design should look like. That requires proper information, costing and consultation. But I can say that I believe the need is real, I support the City taking an active role in finding solutions, and I would be very willing to sit down with Chilliwack Slo-Pitch and other local sports organizations to listen and work through the options.
For me, this fits how I approach City Council: listen, learn, look for practical solutions, and then make a responsible decision.
Thank you again for bringing this forward and for everything your leagues do for recreation in Chilliwack.