MOOSE JAW — Cricket lovers will soon have a dedicated field on which to play the fast-growing international sport thanks to a new five-year agreement between the city and the Saskatchewan Cricket Association.
During its April 28 executive committee meeting, city council unanimously approved a 20-year lease agreement between the City of Moose Jaw and the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement — on behalf of Saskatchewan Polytechnic — to use lands on the 800 block of MacDonald Street.
Both parties can agree to a five-year extension, while both can terminate the contract by giving six months’ written notice. The agreement also allows for potential expansion of the nearby parking lot and skate park.
The city will pay the province an annual rental rate of $1 for this land. This site — known as the Sask. Poly Athletic Field — is across the street from the Kinsmen Sportsplex and adjacent to the skate park.
Furthermore, council authorized the community services department to construct the cricket pitch for $75,000, while it approved a five-year licensing agreement with the Saskatchewan Cricket Association (SCA) for the use, operation and maintenance of the new pitch.
The city will contribute $50,000 towards construction — it should take three months — and the SCA and its partners will chip in $25,000. Future capital improvements will follow a 50/50 cost-sharing model; a five-year agreement extension is possible.
Also, the SCA will pay an annual rental rate of $1 and assume all maintenance costs, including mowing and pitch upkeep, while the city will maintain the adjacent trails, parking lot, skate park and surrounding green spaces.
This recommendation will become official when council approves the meeting minutes during its next regular meeting in May.
Members of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce and the local cricket community proposed building a pitch in 2022, and following consultations, city hall identified the green space north of the Kinsmen Sportsplex as the most suitable site, a council report said.
Specifically, that field is adequate for a full-size pitch, there are zero nearby residential properties, people can access washrooms, parking and concessions at the Sportsplex and it is close to Sask. Polytech where many players study, the document continued.
Moose Jaw’s soccer community previously used the site, but the field has been unused for more than seven years. Meanwhile, last year, the municipality began contract negotiations with SaskBuilds since officials anticipated the development of a cricket pitch.
Administration told council that it could transfer the agreement from the SCA to the Moose Jaw club in the future because of the latter’s presence in the community. Furthermore, the public will have access to the cricket pitch, similar to other fields in the city.
“This is a project we’re excited about … . It was a key priority identified in our Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which was developed through input from our community,” said Derek Blais, director of community services. “This project will fill a recreational gap in our community.”
The report noted that the city manages 15 athletic field locations with 46 playing surfaces. However, cricket players have been forced to use baseball diamonds for modified and informal matches.
“A dedicated pitch will relieve pressure on existing baseball diamonds and support growth in the sport (of cricket), with Moose Jaw teams expected to join SCA leagues,” the report said.
Cricket is growing in Saskatchewan, as the SCA oversees five zones, 40 clubs and 71 teams, with the association expected to create a sixth zone in Moose Jaw, the document continued.
The report added that letters from the chamber, Sask. Polytech students’ union, the Moose Jaw Cricket Club and the SCA suggest a cricket pitch will attract and retain new immigrants and should generate tourism and create a positive economic effect.
Comments from the SCA and city council will be featured in another article.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 12.
