PARKSVILLE – Oceanside Minor Baseball was in front of Parksville Council recently asking for improvements to Springwood park.
They were asking for up to $4000 to improve the base paths at Rotary Field. Mike Parlow with the Parksville Royals of the B-C Premier Baseball League said the upgrades were promised to Baseball BC ahead of bantam provincials this past summer.
“We told them we were going to work with the city and improve upon it,” said Parlow. “Our plan was to get in time for provincials. It didn’t quite work out that way, unfortunately. By the time we realized we weren’t going to fulfill that obligation, the championship was upon us and Baseball BC didn’t have any options.”
Parlow says while kind to them, Baseball BC was “not particularly thrilled with us.”
In addressing council, Parlow also said Springwood Park is over booked.
“Baseball, soccer, lacrosse and softball all make heavy use of Springwood park,” he said. “So increasingly we’re on the field at the same time and it taxes the city to keep everything maintained and so forth and it gives the RDN very real scheduling headaches.”
Parlow said adding lights to Inouye-Wallace Field could help ease the issue of over booking as it would double the field time during the week and add an extra session on weekends.
Council suggested Parlow and Oceanside Minor Baseball also approach the Regional District of Nanaimo about upgrades and the issue of over booking.