Article contentThe Sydney Baseball Park Association recognized the need for renovations at the Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field in 2022, and the group was able to raise $780,000 for the project.Article contentLast year, the project was approved in the 2025 CBRM capital budget. A tender went out, and construction from a civil standpoint began in the middle of summer, proceeding to the landscaping phase last fall with seed being placed in the outfield at the end of September.Article contentLandscaping continued after the winter months in the spring, and work continues to take place with the goal of having players and teams on the Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field this year.Article content Issues with the outfield grass at the Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field are causing the delay in opening the newly renovated Sydney field, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality confirmed. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserArticle contentDurning said turf-grass fields typically take a minimum of 12 months to complete, noting the Bernie MacNeil project is less than 12 months since construction started.Article content“I’ve heard 700 and some days have passed since this project started and people are still waiting for it to be completed, well, for projects like this it starts with advocacy and fundraising and that may have been when that process got kicked into gear and the potential presentation to council,” he said.Article contentArticle content“We’re before that 12-month period where you see these types of turf-grass fields really being established and being ready for the stress of play.”Article contentScott Morrison, founding member of the Sydney Baseball Park Association, said while he understands the frustration about the project, the field is still in the hands of the contractors and has not been transferred to the municipality.Article content“The contractors have the final say, and they’re at the point where they’re almost ready to release it to the CBRM,” he said. “The contractors haven’t released the field to be playable yet, they’re trying to and they know everybody wants it, but there’s still some issues and they say the field can’t be used.”Article content A view from the outfield at the newly renovated Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field in Sydney on Friday afternoon. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserArticle contentWhile Morrison isn’t picking sides in the situation, he said the Sydney Baseball Park Association has to listen to what they’re being told and don’t have a say when it comes to it.Article content“We’re just listening to what they’re telling us,” said Morrison. “We can’t risk basically damaging an investment for the municipality. As soon as the field is officially transferred to the CBRM, we’re basically done. Somebody might want to take over and build phase two which would be a building behind the field and continue the improvement of it, but the asset is owned by CBRM.”Article contentArticle contentAs far as pushback from the community, Morrison said everyone is trying their best to have the field ready for the kids.Article content“There’s nobody that doesn’t want the kids on the field, so it’s almost a laughable thing,” he said. “Why would anybody not want the kids there?Article content“We want to showcase it, we’re proud of that field, that’s four-and-a-half years of work to get to this point, so if the contractors say it’s not ready yet because of this grass issue, unfortunately, it’s them that makes the decision and it’s a big asset to risk ruining.”Article content A view of the Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field in Sydney from behind the backstop on Friday afternoon. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserArticle contentSome community members have questioned why the Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field isn’t ready while work at Cameron Bowl in Glace Bay is nearing completion, despite that project starting after the Sydney field.Article contentDurning addressed the criticism.Article content“The national championship was coming, and we knew we had to have the field ready for play for the nationals,” said Durning. “It’s not open yet either, I was on the field this morning and taking a walk around the fence and stuff and looking at the outfield, we’re almost there as well.
Outfield grass issues causing delay in opening newly renovated Bernie MacNeil Memorial Ball Field in Cape Breton
