Grande Prairie cricket still looking to expand
It’s not all crickets at city hall while council continues its search for a future location for a new pitch.
Last Tuesday, the Public and Protective Services committee moved the conversation about a new home for cricket to a Committee of the Whole meeting.
“Cricket has been thriving in Grande Prairie,” said Digvijai Parmar, Grande Prairie Cricket Association president.
He said the association, which started in 2012 as a “bunch of enthusiastic players” has grown to over 85 members and five teams locally.
Cricket in Grande Prairie is stifled as it only has one area to play at the Head and Salmond Family Park in Northridge. Parmar believes there is enough interest to have 10 teams in the city but not enough playing space.
“There's a huge interest,” he said, adding over 20 people have inquired about playing, but they have had to turn away players because there are just not enough resources, such as playing ground.
City council has been working with the cricket association for years as they work to find a new area to play.
In November 2022, council directed administration to work with the association to assist in a site plan and potential locations.
A year later, city administration returned with three potential locations: Cobblestone East, Riverstone (Signature Falls), and Vision West. Council also provided some upgrades after residents complained of noise from the cricket practice pitch (batting cage) next to its games pitch in Head and Salmond Family Park.
Now, the conversation will return to the council at a Committee of the Whole meeting to decide whether to relocate the cricket grounds within Head and Salmond Family Park or move them to a new location.
Additionally, the club is requesting a scoreboard, net practice cages, and a dugout.
A city report says the cost to move the current pitch within its current location is about $21,000.
Moving the cricket pitch to a new location, such Cobblestone, is estimated at $110,000. Signature Falls is estimated at $120,000, and Visions West is expected to be the most costly as it would need the most work to accommodate a field.
City administration recommends the Signature Falls location as it would be next to Mother Teresa School and has plenty of parking. The report says the Grande Prairie and District Catholic School Division supports the project.
Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Town & Country News
