THUNDER BAY — Local cricket players are getting a new location to enjoy the sport.
By next summer, a cricket field is expected to be operating in the green space at Current River Park on Cumberland Street North.
Hundreds of people already play the sport at a site at Chapples Park, authorized under a 2021 agreement between the City of Thunder Bay and the Kombans Cricket Club.
Its member teams use a former baseball diamond six days a week during the season, as well as operating a youth program twice a week.
Recently, the Thunder Bay Gujarat Lions Cricket Club was formed with the aim of establishing a new competitive league, including a travelling team representing the city in matches in Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota.
It approached the city last winter, saying the growing popularity of the sport — largely due to an interest from Lakehead University and Confederation College students from southeast Asia — meant the capacity of the city's only field was inadequate.
The travelling team also required more practice time, preferably on a site closer to the size of a regulation cricket field.
The city's parks and open Spaces section looked at three potential locations, and selected Current River Park for the largest available playing area — with a pitch measuring 130 metres by 100 metres — as well as access to amenities including a shade structure and a washroom building.
Suresh Prajapati speaks for the Gujarat Lions, which currently has seven teams.
He said they were able to use the cricket ground at Chapples twice a week, but found that two days just weren't enough to meet demand.
"When I came to Thunder Bay in 2017, I never thought that we could get seven or eight teams in one club...In total, there are 14 teams playing cricket [now]."
He said when international students are investigating options for schooling in Canada, one important consideration is the availability of recreational and cultural activities.
Farhan Yousaf of the Lakehead University Student Union, said much the same in an interview in 2021.
"This is a big step to making Thunder Bay a more inclusive and welcoming community...Having a cricket pitch here now, I think it's a huge boost for the city, potentially in retaining students as well."
Prajpati said he's grateful for the support that cricket has received throughout the community, rather than just from city officials.
"Thank you to City of Thunder Bay and all the community who's helping to grow that different culture, and involve everyone in the city," he said, adding that there are potential economic spinoffs from future tournaments, since local cricket teams plan to host visiting teams from Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins.
The city is assisting with some site preparation at Current River Park, but the Gujarat Lions are raising their own funds to construct the concrete and turf facility.
Under the arrangement between the parties, special events already scheduled for the park will continue to be permitted to do so in the future, as the cricket club will not play on the field during these occasions.
