Photo Credit: Grande Prairie Minor Baseball Facebook page

By Abby Zieverink

Blanket policy across region

City passes Ball Diamonds Priority policy to optimize field use

Mar 23, 2022 | 5:00 AM

This story has been updated from its original version.

With baseball, softball, and slo-pitch seasons quickly approaching, leagues across the region are gearing up for a busy season on the ball diamonds.

With that, Grande Prairie city council unanimously approved the Ball Diamonds Priority Policy at its March 21 meeting in an effort to outline the fair and equitable distribution of ball diamond time to users in the area.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the policy will be similar to the policy for ice surfaces in the region.

“As you know in the region, we have multiple ice surfaces and multiple ball diamonds and with both of these facilities we have a constant and heavy demand for their use,” she said.

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“And in order for them to be fully used and really used in a way, they are beneficial to user groups and beneficial to new people trying to get time on the field and clubs trying to maximize their field time.”

Clayton explains the Ball Diamonds Priorities Policy was initiated due to the high demand for field use in prime times.

She says the city and surrounding municipalities have worked with the Grande Prairie Regional Recreation Committee to help support user groups and their needs.

“By putting together the policy, user groups will know what’s required to cancel field time, what’s required to sign up for field time, and talk about demand times.”

She says the policy will set out a clear set of rules and expectations to keep communication positive and clear between those using the field and municipalities.

“So, if you play one time in Clairmont, one time in Grande Prairie, similar user expectations, will be instituted,” she explained.

“We have had similar discussions with multiple municipalities in the past, however, this is the first time we have had a blanket policy.”

It should be noted, the Ball Diamond Priority Policy is exclusive to the City of Grande Prairie and is not a Grande Prairie Regional Recreation Committee initiative.

The policy was first vetted through the Grande Prairie Regional Rec Committee, in which the administrative group worked with user groups for their input. It was then sent to committees and then the respective councils.