montrealgazette.com
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Residents in Montreal’s Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough are questioning the decision to remove a baseball field to make way for a new library and park, arguing the sport has been an anchor for local youths.
The baseball field in Le Prévost Park is slated to be destroyed in 2028 as part of the project, which the city describes as “library-garden” themed.
Valérie Hébert, whose two daughters use the field with their team, the Jackies, said she’s concerned about the message the decision sends to young players who have found an outlet through the sport.
“It’s as if they’re telling them they’re not important and their needs aren’t taken into account,” said Hébert, who has collected nearly 1,000 signatures through a petition opposing the project.
Hébert was among those to attend a city council meeting on Jan. 26 where the city awarded a contract to the architectural firm behind the project.
Years in the making, the project entails building a new library to replace the existing one and redesigning the adjacent Le Prévost Park, where the baseball field is located.
According to city documents, instead of sports, the new park will focus on “urban agriculture, art and poetry. The poetry of words and plants.”
While she doesn’t oppose the new library, named after Quebec author Caroline Dawson, Hébert said she doesn’t see why the baseball field can’t remain and be included in the project.
According to the local baseball club, the change comes at a time when the sport is growing in popularity in the borough — especially among young girls — and finding available fields is becoming increasingly difficult.
Maxime Brossard, president of the Association de baseball amateur Jarry, said registrations have increased by 35 per cent since 2021. Among its 300 players, one-third are girls.
By the association’s count, the borough has already lost 20 baseball fields since 2000. It now tries to split practice and game times between seven fields, Brossard said, but struggles to meet demand.
Already this year, the club had to resort to a draw to determine which team got to practise twice a week.
“Our biggest concern is that we will need to cut our membership at a certain point,” Brossard said. “Because we’re aiming for growth that probably can’t be maintained if the field is dismantled.”
Contacted for this report, a spokesperson for the borough said the new library will address a growing need and the project is too advanced for any major changes.
The borough pointed out that two other baseball fields remain accessible in the neighbourhood, including one in nearby De Normanville Park that the borough is considering renovating.
“Maximizing all available public spaces in the borough is essential and must be combined with various initiatives to meet all the needs of the population,” the borough said.
Hébert, for her part, challenges the borough’s assertion there are enough local fields to make do with.
Moreover, she questioned whether elected officials understand the significance the sport holds for many young players in the neighbourhood.
“For once, these girls have found a sport in which they’re thriving and using the city’s sports facilities for,” she said.
“Three times a week, they have a sense of belonging — they’re not on their phones, they’re developing their self-esteem, they’re shouting, they’re chanting,” she continued.
“Now it feels like they’re getting the rug pulled out from under them.”
Feeling she has exhausted her options with the borough, Hébert said she attended the recent city council meeting in hopes of convincing the new Ensemble Montréal administration to act.
In a statement to The Gazette, Montreal North borough mayor Christine Black, now responsible for sports and recreation on the city’s executive committee, said she understands residents’ concerns.
Black noted she made a point to meet with those opposing the change to see what can be done.
“I assured them we would examine our options and remain in contact with them moving forward,” Black added.
jfeith@postmedia.com
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