Editor, The News:
Re: ‘Sports facilities are at capacity’ (The News, Dec. 4).
I am in full agreement with Maple Ridge not having enough facilities.
I am frustrated at fact that there was no mention of the need for more ball facilities.
I have been saying this for years as per my letter to the editor from May 17th 2011, five and a half years ago. But it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Do people not realize the amount of ball players that Maple Ridge has? Not only with slo-pitch, but women’s fastball, youth hardball and softball, and seniors’ slo-pitch. With all these ball sports combined, we have just as many players as soccer.
Ball sports have not had any new facilities since the diamonds were built in Albion. Yes, we got the new diamonds at Larry Walker field, but those are limited to hard ball.
Soccer and lacrosse have had three and soon to be four artificial turf fields built for them.
I have lived in Maple Ridge all my life and I have seen this community grow dramatically, but our sports facilities have not. So I am in favour for the need of more facilities.
I just want to let people know that soccer, lacrosse and hockey are not the only sports in this town.
There are hundreds of ball players out there who compete at a high level and we also need more and better fields to accommodate the ever growing population in this not-so-bedroom town.
We also need to be added to that list.
Darren Gosselin, president
Ruskin Slo-pitch