The City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo are asking the public to provide feedback on a new cricket strategy to gauge how residents would like to see their community grow the sport.
The City of Cambridge has set aside nearly $1.5 million over the next two years to build two new cricket pitches in the city and feedback from this survey will help planners better understand where they should be built.
"In the last decade, the region has witnessed a significant increase in interest in the sport of cricket. Local cricket organizations and community members have expressed concerns about a lack of adequate facilities," reads the region's website.
According to the region, cricket organizations have expressed their concern that the current cricket pitch inventory is not enough to meet demand, but there are limited options for land on which to build additional pitches.
In a few recent incidents, the sport's growing popularity in Cambridge has led to conflict and interfered with other neighbourhood sports organizations.
Demand for cricket must also be balanced with other popular field sports, the region says.
Saikumar Sukka, owner of the Knights of Cambridge, a local cricket team is happy the city is looking to grow the sport here locally, especially as their main pitch at the Dumfries Conservation area is coming to a close.
"The Grand River Conservation Authority is ripping up the pitch to make it just the conservation area," said Sukka. "It's good to hear that they will be looking at making more pitches here in the city, we need them."
Sukka and his team add that they are frequently put on waitlists for existing pitches like at Victoria Park as they are taken up by the bigger clubs and organizations.
The Knights of Cambridge previously had to travel to Kitchener or other parts of the region to play; sometimes even having to go to the GTA to find available spots.
Sukka would like to capitalize on the access to Cambridge from the 401 highway and take advantage of the city's desire to build its sports-tourism sector.
"I am looking at setting up a meeting with the mayor to talk about cricket here," he said.
In the 2025 budget, the City of Cambridge has called for the spending of $175,000 in 2026 and $1.4 million in 2027 to complete a feasibility study and start construction on the two fields.
Sukka hopes he and his team can be a part of the ongoing discussions and that they are not left for just the major clubs in the area.
The region will have the survey open until Jan. 10.
To find out more about the survey, visit the region's website.
