A multi-purpose indoor sports facility at Darroch Park is being proposed by West Kelowna Minor Baseball (WKMBA).
The organization will present their idea to the city council’s Committee of the Whole (CoW) on Tuesday (Nov. 5). The plan would see the facility built between fields B2 and B3 at Darroch Park and be available for use by various sports organizations in the community.
“While the multi-sport dome has been a fantastic addition and a tremendous benefit to our community, each organization outside soccer is restricted to just one time slot,” a letter to CoW reads. “With over 300 members in WKMBA alone, this single slot can only accommodate a fraction of our athletes.”
The letter adds that the school district does not allow baseball activities in school gyms and indoor training options are limited unless athletes are willing to travel to Kelowna.
The WKMBA’s plan is for a year-round indoor facility that can be configured for open space use accommodating several sports. The facility would also include a meeting space, washrooms, and storage space.
“Our three diamonds are also heavily overbooked, and having additional space would allow teams to get in training while the diamonds are in use,” the letter states.
The presentation includes blueprints for a similar facility being built in Kelowna at Edith Gay Park.
The WKMBA is not asking the city for funding, stating that the project will be funded through donations and contributions from local associations.
“The only ask we have from the city is for the park space to build,” the organization says. “Initial feedback from local sports organizations and school programs has shown strong support for such a facility.”
The CoW will decide if the proposal will be forwarded to city council.
