It’s been said ‘if you build it they will come’ and after Monday night’s council meeting Chatham’s own Dream Field Project is one step closer to being built.
Council voted unanimously to move forward in obtaining a procurement package for the new field.
On June 24, 2024 council identified the current Kiwanis Stadium soccer field beside Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park in Chatham as the preferred location for a new fully accessible regulation size baseball diamond.
With the $4.1 million in capital costs to build the field being raised by the Dream Field Committee, council will be presented with an operating budget estimate in November as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP).
Detailed design of the Dream Field is estimated to cost $200,000 with the Dream Field Committee covering the costs of the design. Administration will proceed with tender once these funds are received.
The Dream Field Project is listed as a priority in the PRMP with the field meeting the minimum competitive standards for high level youth, adult, and Challenger (adaptive) baseball.
Features of the Dream Field will include dugouts, bullpens, a storage or washroom building, hard surfacing, bleachers, and safety netting on all sides. According to the report, the playing field will be entirely artificial turf.
The Chatham Youth Soccer Association (CYSA), who is currently the main user of the Kiwanis Stadium will be given priority of time slots at St. Clair College Community Park, which will have their soccer fields available following Phase 3 of construction.
Construction on the Dream Field will not begin until after the capital costs are raised and not before the completion of the 2026 soccer season.