Massive indoor baseball facility pitched for South Okanagan

Playing softball and baseball in Penticton may happen year round, thanks to a new proposal going to city council this week. Penticton’s city council will decide whether to approve the first steps allow an indoor-baseball facility at 1603 Dartmouth Road, at the intersection of Dartmouth...

Massive indoor baseball facility pitched for South Okanagan

Playing softball and baseball in Penticton may happen year round, thanks to a new proposal going to city council this week.

Penticton’s city council will decide whether to approve the first steps allow an indoor-baseball facility at 1603 Dartmouth Road, at the intersection of Dartmouth Road and Carmi Avenue.

“The property was vacant until recently, at which time the property has begun seeing improvements for a self-storage business,” according to a report that will be presented to council, Tuesday, Aug. 16.

The owners of Grand Slam Baseball Okanagan intend to operate the self-storage on the property and provide additional leased spaces as well as an indoor baseball facility.

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The plan is to develop softball and baseball players in the South Okanagan, according to the owners.

“In recent years baseball and softball in the South Okanagan have taken a back seat to other youth sports. With the push of numbers in the last two years, both sports have seen a very steady increase in time spent on the field. By adding this new indoor facility, GSBO gives players, lovers of the game (and anyone new to the sport) an opportunity to participate during the winter months, as well as adding more fields with open practice time availability throughout the spring, summer and fall,” they wrote in the report to council.

The facility would include: various training camps and lessons, clinics, an equipment shop, gym, memberships and a baseball academy.

City staff are in favour of the 7,000 sq. ft. indoor multi-use sports facility, saying it is “unique” and will attract new businesses to Penticton.

If approved, it will also have more than 5,000 sq. ft. of artificial turf.

"This building will include a mezzanine viewing area and board room for off-field instruction, dry land training or for any organization to use for monthly meetings," according to the report.

If approved, it will be the first of its kind in South Okanagan and will be available for a "multitude of field sport organizations."

 


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