Accessibility upgrades to the Kin 1 softball field inside Riverside Park are closer to becoming a reality after a city council meeting on Tuesday.
Council voted unanimously in support of asking staff to apply for funding through the Jays Care Foundation to help pay for the project that comes with a price tag of $3,025,000.
Funding from the foundation could net $150,000 to cover costs.
Ward 1 councillor Helen Shwery initially moved a motion to have staff apply for the funding but to defer the project to the 2026 budget and direct staff to develop a sponsorship campaign to come up with the remaining amount.
But an amendment tabled by Ward 5 councillor Sheri Roberts to defer the funding to next year's budget process through a phased approach, putting critical needs first, won council's support.
Staff will now apply for the Jays Care funding by Oct. 31.
The recommended work for the field includes paved accessible parking improvements with approximately 20 parking spaces, hard surface accessible paths to the field, a shaded accessible dugout area, accessible fan bleacher seating, new field fencing including backstop fencing, lighting improvements including LED conversion, a new accessible artificial turf infield and sight line improvements through berm removal or modifications.
The total for the project includes $2,525,000 in construction costs for the field and an additional $500,000 for an accessible washroom.
The remaining funding could be secured through sponsorships and grants.
In the initial report presented to council prior to the meeting, staff suggested it was premature to apply for the funding until the funds could be secured for the entirety of the project.
But lengthy delegations from members of the community at the meeting had council thinking otherwise.
Coun. Mike Devine thanked the delegates and called it "probably the most impactful meeting" he's ever seen.
Coun. Scott Hamilton said he believes this type of project is what helps all residents feel a sense of belonging within the community.
"I think if we want to create a city that all of our residents can believe in, we need to ensure they have that sense of inclusivity and belonging," Hamilton said.
"One thing I really learned tonight was the element of social connection and how powerful that is for players, for families and for coaches."
Hamilton also pointed to the unpredictability of costs as a reason to move forward sooner rather than later.
"What we find with any project is if we don't move forward with it, the cost tends to go up over time, while the probability can go down," he said.
"So with something as important and time sensitive as this, I'm in favour of moving forward with it."
It was music to the ears of Cam Linwood, who runs the Buddy League in the city.
Buddy League is an adaptive form of baseball designed to get individuals with physical and developmental needs off the sidelines and into the game. The Kin 1 diamond serves as one of its primary homes.
"It's probably best to say I was incredibly proud of the 19 families, athletes and supporters who spoke up as delegates last night and the dozens of others that wrote in," Linwood, who doubles as the senior manager of Challenger Baseball with the Jays Care Foundation, said.
"Kin 1 is a diamond that’s worked for our program but I think one of the biggest aspects is that we make it work."
Linwood agrees that a phased approach makes sense and he'd like to see the paved walkway to the field, artificial turf and accessible dugouts and bleachers be the top priorities.
"It was a very big first step," he said.
"I don’t think anyone knew how this would unfold. When the tears around the room stopped from some of the speeches, everyone was excited."
