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Hackett Park upgrades to start next week

The District of Sechelt is closing the southwest baseball diamond at Hackett Park, starting April 22.
fastball
A batter lines up a ball during a fastball game last summer at Hackett Park.

The District of Sechelt is closing the southwest baseball diamond at Hackett Park, starting April 22.

The diamond, at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Dolphin Street, was the focus of public safety concerns over balls being thrown or hit out of the park, resulting in men’s fastball league games being moved to Kinnikinnick Park for the 2018 season.

The move prompted complaints from the league, which said the downtown location was better for both players and fans.

The league applied for and received a grant for $50,000 from the District of Sechelt’s Community Forest Legacy funds to replace the backstop at Hackett Park to mitigate the risk.

The project involves complete replacement of the existing backstop and dugouts. The new backstop will be five metres (16 feet) high with an over-hang, and extend to the first and third baselines. This will reduce the risk of balls leaving the playfield.

The Sunshine Coast Fastball league is managing the project and awarded the contract to Evergreen Landscaping. Central Coast Concrete will be donating concrete for the project.

“I am pleased to work with the fastball league to help them find a solution that allows them to play in their park of choice while ensuring the safety of local residents and citizens walking by,” said Sechelt parks manager Perry Schmitt in a release announcing the start of construction.

The area around the ball diamond will be closed for approximately four to six weeks, but the northeast baseball diamond and playing field will remain open during construction.

The District has arranged alternative locations for the user groups likely to be impacted.