TSN, Kraft Celebration Tour funds update and plans for Wallaceburg
Kate Beirness playing lacrosse with the Toronto Rock in Wallaceburg - File Photo
This is a letter sent out by Todd Shepley, President of Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse and Chris Dawson, Chair of the Kraft/TSN Project:
It has been a while since the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the people of Wallaceburg and Wallaceburg Lacrosse with their friends and associates joined forces and won the prestigious Kraft / TSN Tour and the $25,000 grand prize in order to enhance an outdoor sports facility within the community of Wallaceburg.
Since that time the involved organizations have not been idle, but rather working diligently to search out the best alternatives and value for the money.
Since last summer there have been many options and proposals presented to the Committee formed for this purpose.
At this point in time we are very pleased to say, the Committee is starting to finalize plans and are ready to move forward.
To best use the facility and the monies obtained from Kraft and other donations, preliminary plans are in the works to join with Wallaceburg Field Lacrosse teams using Glen Mickle Park.
Glen Mickle Park currently has a large tennis court area similar to the one located at the high school.
With the funds available, the plans would be to resurface the tennis courts at Glen Mickle park, which are in need of repair, rejuvenate the existing fencing, provide some walk ways and netting and if and when further monies become available, make further enhancements.
This would make the facility a fantastic, new area for the entire community to enjoy.
Besides lacrosse the facility will be outfitted for basketball and possibly other sports that can be enjoyed by the entire community, making this a multipurpose facility for all to use.
Over the next few months our plans should be finalized, construction can begin and we can start to use the new facillty.
Look for further updates as we progress.
Watch for more on this story as more information becomes available.
Jay
June 13, 2012 at 8:51 pm
An upset listener to 99.1 CKXS sent in these reasons for being upset about the change of plans:
#1 From the very beginning it was to be put WDSS tennis courts
#2 So it was close to the arena
#3 Teams during tournaments could walk over and use as a warm up surface
#4 The high school could use it for teaching kids during class (Lacrosse)or other sporting classes
#5 No homework could of been done other than someone who could influence the decision to put it at Glen Mickle Park
#6 Check out the results for how long the skateboard park lasted over at that park before being complete vandalized
#7 The TV crew and the park party was all geared to the new surface at WDSS
#8 We have a small shop of 20 people but two of the guys have their children in lacrosse now and they heard about this 2 days ago
and think it is nothing but a joke and will not take their kids to that park
#9 One of the guys has said he’s even embarrassed that he got all of us and our families to vote
#10 Reason for you not hearing any other feedback ,I would think People from Wallaceburg have all but given on any one listening to them
Michael Cowtan
June 13, 2012 at 10:33 pm
As an outsider looking in, who did his fair share of voting, I would really like to know WHY WDSS is not suitable, instead of just why Glen Mickle is so wonderful.
Glen Mickle is much further away from both WDSS and the Arena, it is on the edge of town where it will be difficult to police, and subject to vandalism.
Does someone know the answers?
Jay Smith
June 15, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Michael, one of the reasons I’ve read locally is that there were complaints from local neighbours near WDSS re: the construction, new facility, etc.
Michael Cowtan
June 16, 2012 at 10:29 am
Thanks Jay