Cricket pitch at Clarington’s Courtice Memorial Park now open

If the terms bowler, batsman and leg-before-wicket confuse you a bit, head over to Clarington and Courtice Memorial Park to watch some cricket and all will be revealed.

Or not, but at the least you get to spend a couple of hours watching one of the world’s fastest growing sports in action.

Clarington’s first municipal cricket pitch was opened Friday with some fanfare and a demonstration by local cricket players Friday at the new pitch in Courtice.

Residents asked and Council listened, said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.

“Members of the community stepped forward with needs that we weren’t aware of, and their engagement led to the creation of this pitch,” he said. “Clarington remains committed to fulfilling the recreational needs of our rapidly changing and diverse community, and I am delighted by the tremendous interest shown by the enthusiastic groups of new cricket players who are eager to use the new pitch.”

In response to “impassioned” requests from residents, Council voted to support the development of outdoor cricket play and staff collaborated closely with the community to make the facility a reality.

Last summer, a temporary solution was attempted by partnering with a local school board to offer a temporary cricket pitch overlay in a Courtice schoolyard. However, it became evident that this stop-gap measure did not adequately address the requirements of the local cricket players.

The new cricket pitch was completed in early July and has been recently opened for players to book. There has already been plenty of interest from multiple cricket clubs that are “keen” to reserve match times at the new facility.

To ensure the success of Courtice Memorial Park as a cricket facility, the Municipality urges residents to use Courtice Leash-Free Dog Park, three kilometres away on the east side of the South Courtice Arena. Off-leash dogs are prohibited on all Clarington sports fields to maintain the cleanliness and safety of the sports fields.

As Clarington’s population continues to grow and diversify, the Municipality has expedited the development of a new Parks, Recreation, and Culture Master Plan. The plan aims to identify and address the current and future demand for parks, recreation, and cultural facilities and services. The plan will also help guide future capital investments and program offerings.