For Immediate Release: Aug. 1, 2017
At the June Town Council Meeting, Stratford Town Council approved a resolution to fund an upgrade to the current lights at Upper MacNeill Field and the installation of new lights at Lower MacNeill Field. The new lights will complement the extensive upgrades to Lower MacNeill Field that were completed prior to the Canada Summer Games in 2009. The upgrades to Upper MacNeill Field are required due to the age of the current infrastructure and electrical issues that have plagued the field over the past few years. As a result of these issues, the Stratford Minor Baseball Association has long requested that these lights be replaced and new lights installed at Lower MacNeill Field.
The Stratford Minor Baseball Association currently has approximately 225 players registered across multiple age groups. As baseball has seen a resurgence in the region over the past few years, demand for field time has increased, prompting the need for immediate upgrades.
Councillor Jody Jackson has been involved in the sporting community for most of his life, spending a significant portion of his youth as a player in the Stratford Minor Baseball Association. One of Jackson's first actions as Town Councillor was to advocate for upgrades to the MacNeill Field Complex on Georgetown Road. "These upgrades will allow the Stratford Minor Baseball Association to expand their current capacity and give our baseball players that big league experience you only get while playing under the lights" said Jackson. "Having the new lights will also allow for a substantial increase in field time available, especially when the days are shorter in May, August and September".
Mayor David Dunphy suggests the upgrades are a means to provide Stratford children and adults with another opportunity to stay active within the community. "With the current mental health crisis that is going on in our society, it is important that we, as a town, provide our residents with every opportunity possible to stay physically and mentally healthy" said Dunphy. "Our annual resident survey places a great emphasis on creating health and wellness opportunities within the Town, and this initiative clearly aligns with that strategy".
Stratford, the fastest-growing community on PEI, has experienced an increase in young families living in the area thereby creating additional requirements for recreational facilities in the Town. It is hoped that investments such as the new lighting for the MacNeill Field Complex will send a positive message to all residents of Stratford that Town Council places significant importance on investing in our youth.
"We are very grateful to the Town of Stratford for allocating the funding for the field upgrades. This support will help us continue to build the sport in our community," said Joe Carroll, President of Stratford Minor Baseball Association. "We have been experiencing year over year growth annually and have some of our highest participation numbers in our youngest divisions. This infrastructure upgrade will ensure we are well positioned now and in the future to support the youth of Stratford."
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For more information please contact:
Erin Clarke, Community Engagement Coordinator
Phone: (902) 569-6921
Email: [email protected]