First, full-size cricket pitch coming to Windsor, allowing more players to enjoy the game
Plans are in the works to install Windsor’s first full-size cricket pitch and to improve multi-use trails at a popular community park.
Windsor city council has committed $100,000 for a cricket field within Derwent Park, while also improving and extending nearby multi-use trails.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Ward 8 councillor Gary Kaschak and officials with the Windsor Essex Cricket Club provided details about the plans at the park on Friday.
“Through completion of this important study at Derwent Park, enhancement of this useable space, and installation of the city’s first full-sized cricket pitch, we are delivering results for healthy and active living for residents and visitors,” said Dilkens.
There are about 11 acres of recreational greenspace between Forest Glade Drive and the E.C. Row Expressway – running along the east side of Lauzon Parkway.
Derwent Park currently has 650 metres of gravel and natural trails that run through a woodlot along the eastern edge of city land. Combined, the woodlot, trail, and open space cover approximately 32 acres in total.
The future cricket pitch would be the first full-size pitch in the city — and Windsor's third pitch overall.
The number of teams under the Windsor Essex Cricket League has increased from five to 15, between 2018 and 2022, according to president Anwar Shahid. Windsor has just two cricket grounds, he said, which allows for a maximum of eight teams to play on any given day since one game can take between four and five hours.
"We've also had some incidents where we had to stop some clubs outside Windsor because they wanted to visit us and play some exhibition games here," said Shahid, noting there wasn't enough cricket pitches in Windsor to allow for that to happen.
"But we are happy that we can accommodate those requests now."
City administration expects to complete the full design by the end of summer and present it to council as a part of the 2023 proposed capital budget.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.