My son was involved with PMBA over 20 years ago. At that time we used the field behind the convention centre, we also had a big field with bleachers, lights for night games and many kids played Babe Ruth ball there, then we acquired the field behind the curling club.
Our children did fundraising so those lights could be put in for bight games. The parents rallied and got the services of people with knowledge of building within the leagues to help build the new field. Those fields were all utilized and the kids cherished their memories there. Opening day we invited the mayor to come down and throw out the first pitch. Baseball is affordable to most people, that is the reason kids and parents enjoy the game.
I know back in the day we worked hard as an executive to maintain the fields and no child was turned away. Now that the events centre is there, our fields were put into a parking lot.
What will happen to the lights, equipment etc? We took our kids to Missoula, Montana and they have a baseball city. There are 16 diamonds in one area, games and fields for all ages.
If Penticton wants to encourage sports tourism, make a baseball park that is huge enough for softball and baseball. Then you will have tournaments. Gosh, even Rock Creek has ball tournaments. Hope you have this park up and running before it turns into a parking lot!
Judie Johnson
Penticton