My Thoughts On Ball Diamond Complex

Times Have Changed In Slo-Pitch
As time evolves, something that was fine 25 years ago no longer receives a passing grade.

The website www.woodstocksentinelreview.com is currently conducting a non-scientific survey online asking whether Woodstock should develop a new 'community' recreation complex in the northeast corner of the city. The 'park' would begin with a ball complex (4 or more diamonds) and could expand with many many different amenities in the future.
As chair of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory committee I would suggest someone could look into all the homework which has already been done on this issue and then vote on the newspaper's survey.
My vote would be 'yes' -- in favour of this 'park'. In other words, it's time some ball diamonds get phased out (Victoria Park, for example) and others re-focused (Southside Park east and west by the stone gate). A 'tournament' complex would be a win-win-win for everyone (economy, minor ball and adult leagues). Quite simply, the technology of today's aluminium bats has made some diamonds obsolete -- a launching pad. One playing field in Southside Park has a netting above the homerun fence, and the ball is travelling over it.
My personal idea and feeling, is that one diamond could stay in Victoria Park, but it's dangerous to play two games simultaneously there as a centrefielder from one game is almost standing back-to-back with a centrefielder from another game. Victoria Park is where the cenotapf is located and should be more of a non-activity park.
The two diamonds in Southside Park could be used by women's slo-pitch and then also be re-focused also for use by minor ball -- perhaps girls' fastball (softball).
Other diamonds in Woodstock have already been decommissioned (or should be) whether it by the City itself or the board of education, including WestEnd Park, Richardson Park on James Street, and Winchester (DM Sutherland) School.
This is my blog, so it's my thoughts, but I was one of the authors of the report to City Council on Dec. 15. At that time, Council approved -- in principle -- that Woodall Farm Park would be the ideal location in the City's northeast for a 'park', which could include ball diamonds plus some or all of the following: pool and splash pad, satellite library, outdoor basketball court, youth centre . . .
None of this may happen, some could become reality, or nothing. The City -- remember -- is currently conducting a large-scale strategic planning session to put on paper a vision of the future.