Those who might one day use Barrie’s planned sports field along the city waterfront are holding their ground.
A Sept. 20, 2023 staff report summarized the positions of six groups which could use the proposed synthetic turf, multi-purpose youth sports field and parade grounds, to be located east of Military Heritage Park, in space 120-by-78 metres, close to Lakeshore Drive.
While city council essentially approved the field May 15, opposition by Barrie residents to its location in a naturalized area near the waterfront — with trees, grass and walking trails — has stubbornly persisted.
Council awaits a consultant’s report on the field, possibly as early as Aug. 14 when it next meets, although the report's timing is uncertain.
Last September’s staff report details conversations with Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association, Barrie and District Girls Softball Association, Barrie Minor Baseball Association, Barrie Rugby Club, Barrie Soccer Club, and Huronia Stallions Football Club.
BarrieToday went back to these groups recently to check on their current positions on the sports field.
Len Day, president of the Barrie Rugby Club, said it supports any development of fields in the city, and that a new turf field would allow increased opportunities for its players to train when they cannot, due to weather.
Day was asked about the public backlash, the opposition rallies held outside Barrie City Hall, the protests along Lakeshore Drive, and whether they have made the local rugby club think twice about supporting this sports field.
“We believe that Barrie is a growing city, it's no longer the small town I grew up in and that is a good thing,” he said. “The great thing about being a Canadian is that groups can support things with backlash.
“We entrust our local political leaders and staff to investigate and develop our infrastructure,” Day added. “Yes, our trees and environmental are important, but remember that site was a (Canadian National Railway) site. There can be balance in development. There will still be access to the waterfront and with the development it may bring more people to the area to enjoy the walking paths and enable a safe family atmosphere.”
Sean Hayward, president of the Barrie and District Girls Softball Association, took a different tact.
“Building the field at the waterfront would be an amazing asset, however it doesn't cover the immediate need for more fields,” he said. “We need 10 more fields, not just one. The fact that it is a turf field is amazing, but again, we need multiple fields, not one.
“Our recreation programs on both boys hardball and girls softball is growing at a great rate, and the softball (players) play on diamonds that are in need of replacing and one field is not going to cut it," Hayward added.
Hayward says the city should be focused on a pinwheel-type field concept similar to the one at the Barrie Community Sports Complex, located on city property on Nursery Road in Midhurst.
"(That) is what the city needs," he said.
Andrew Prestwich, president of the Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association, said there is a need for artificial turf sports fields in Barrie and it supports them, when managed by the city.
“The location of the turf is not something that is a selling point to us or something for us to get involved in,” he said. “Our needs are for practices very early in the season in late March, April and May because our field lacrosse season wraps up Victoria Day weekend.
“Ideally, having more than one turf in an area would be best,” Prestwich added. “That would allow our provincial governing body to schedule games in Barrie. They won’t do it with only one turf. For this reason, we travel on weekends to Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Brampton and as far as Welland and Peterborough."
When asked almost a year ago, Huronia Stallions Football Club officials noted they valued the natural environment of the Barrie Community Sports Complex, rather than the artificial-turf stadiums found in urban areas such as Toronto.
They also said a sod field surface is preferred, as artificial turf is considered too hot to play on during the summer.
The Stallions said they were not in favour of building up Barrie’s waterfront and blocking public access, favouring a natural and beautiful lakeshore.
Martino DiSabatino, the Stallions director of football operations, said not much has changed.
“The city felt it’s needed there and we’re trusting they will do the right thing,” he said.
DiSabatino also noted the Barrie Community Sports Complex is the Stallions’ focus.
“That’s been our cradle. We invested a lot of time and energy in that," he said. “It would be great to enhance that even more, as I think that facility is one of the best in the province, the way it’s situated.”
DiSabatino said there would have to be amenities for the Stallions to use the turf sports field, such as storage facilities and dressing rooms.
He said it needs to be much more than just a field, even a turf one.
“It’s just not suitable,” DiSabatino said, suggesting it be built at the sports complex, "where there is room to grow. We’d like that facility to be expanded.”
Barrie Minor Baseball Association, in that September 2023 report, said it sees an exciting possibility in having a venue by the waterfront.
But the BMBA notes it would not expect to use a waterfront facility on a regular basis, as it might be cost-prohibitive, and other organizations would receive priority. Providing another diamond would free up space for it to host larger tournaments.
“As far as I'm aware, the waterfront (sports field) proposal does not include a baseball diamond, so I don't think this affects us,” BMBA president Rebecca Sauder said in early August
The Barrie Soccer Club (BSC) could not be reached for comment by BarrieToday.
But in the September 2023 staff report, BSC said it sees the waterfront as an ideal, centralized location that would help sell the waterfront and showcase soccer, but favours a multi-sport type of area.
BSC said it would like to have a major central location with stands and a box upstairs, so people can view the game from an elevation. The Barrie Soccer Club said it would also like more artificial turf fields and would be fine with multi-purpose fields.
The planned sports field would be for soccer, rugby, football and lacrosse, as well as marching for the Sea Cadets/Navy League. There could also be amenities such as lighting, benches and site furnishings, along with a paved asphalt, 35-stall parking lot.
A permit is still required from Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, because its regulated area crosses the sports field’s top portion. An archaeological assessment is also needed.
Opposition has centred on the location of the sports field and parade grounds, that it is still too close to the waterfront, despite being moved back closer to Lakeshore Drive, and its size, despite being smaller than the original design.
A consultant’s report is coming on the sports field by Marshall Green, a retired lawyer with a specialty in municipal law and land-use planning. He is meeting with stakeholder groups and will be summarizing their position in a report to council to help guide its path forward.
The project is estimated to cost $4.6 million, which would come from three city reserves — development charges, tax capital and cash-in-lieu of parkland. Washrooms/change rooms are not part of the plans, although the May 8 staff report says the cost would be $650,000 to $1 million.
The Sea Cadets, long located near the Spirit Catcher, would move to an addition to the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre, a northerly extension to the basement of the existing building. It comes with a $4.55-million price tag.
At this point, $300,000 has been committed for the addition’s plan and design. City staff will report back to councillors for future construction funding approval, once costing is refined through the design process.
No funding source for the Southshore’s Sea Cadets addition has been identified by the city.
This sports field idea arguably goes back to last fall.
The staff report from May 8, 2024 states that on Oct. 4, 2023, city council approved the following motion: "That staff in the corporate facilities department be directed to develop a plan, in consultation with the Sea Cadets and the Navy League of Canada, to relocate the Navy Cadets to a new building east of Military Heritage Park, including a parade ground and multi-use outdoor space, and report back."
Staff were directed to explore the potential to locate a multi-use sports field in Allandale Station Park, the staff report says, with the capacity to host a parade ground.
A zoning review shows that the development of a multi-use sports field in Allandale Station Park is permitted.
The park is designated in the Official Plan as open space (OS), which permits the development of playing (sports) fields. Accessory uses permitted in OS zoning include bleachers, a club house, concession stand, refreshment pavilion or booth.
