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Province to spend $1.48M to upgrade two city ballfields

With a May 31, 2017 deadline staring organizers of the 2017 Under-18 Baseball World Cup to make repairs to Port Arthur Stadium and Baseball Central, the province comes through with the cash
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THUNDER BAY -- The 2017 Under-18 Baseball World Cup is no longer in jeopardy.

In one of Thunder Bay’s worst-kept secrets, the provincial government on Friday announced it would support the event to the tune of $1.48 million, a third of which is coming from the ministry of tourism, culture and sport, the remainder from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

Organizers of the event, last held in the city in 2010, said officials from the International Baseball Federation had given them until May 31, 2017 to make the necessary upgrades and repairs to Port Arthur Stadium and Baseball Central, where the tournament will be held starting Sept. 1, 2017.

The work includes replacing the field and adding new bleachers at Baseball Central, padding the outfield walls at both facilities, as well us replacement of the foul poles to meet international standards.

Thunder Bay International Baseball Association president Larry Hebert said it was touch-and-go until the province indicated its support.

“It was pretty dire and pretty important we got the field. That’s why we appreciated the money so much that’s been given to us,” Hebert said.

“Basically they’re tearing up the whole field, putting new drainage in, a new base in and then sod on top.”

Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Eleanor McMahon was on hand for the announcement, held outside Port Arthur Stadium, and said it’s the type of legacy investment that has last effect on communities.

Her department contributed $500,000, which organizers will use to put on the games.

“We want to inspire, not just kids in Thunder Bay, but elsewhere, to get excited about sport. And this is a great way to do that,” McMahon said.

“But also it’s an important economic driver for tourism.”

MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) said the NOHFC portion, $983,000, is a capacity builder that will help tournament organizers hit the required playing-field standard.

But it’s more than that, he said.

“These facilities will be here long after that event is over and they will continue to serve the baseball community and the broader community for years and years to come,” Mauro said.

Work at both fields began several weeks ago.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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