Baseball fans taking in a game at Errol Russell Park this summer would be wise to bring a lawn chair.
Although it hasn't impacted play on the diamond, some significant changes are being made to the park in general. The bleachers, bathrooms and other amenities have been removed from the site as the City of Sarnia looks at ways to improve the ballpark.
Parks and Recreation Director Rob Harwood says they are currently working with an architect to decide what is best for the site.
"By the end of the summer we hope to develop what the scope of the project will be, along with the Sarnia Braves organization," says Harwood. "We're really hoping to get the construction drawings and everything drafted in the fall, get final approval in January, and hopefully have a new ballpark for next year."
The bleachers and bathrooms have been removed from Errol Russell Park for the summer, portable washrooms have been added to the site.
In the meantime, the Sarnia Braves are encouraging fans to bring a lawn chair down to the ballpark, portable washrooms have been added as well. Harwood says they are in constant communication with the Sarnia Braves Minor Baseball Organization to figure out what the site needs.
"We want to make sure we do it right, and that the new buildings are current to today's use rather than the 50-year-old buildings that were there before," he says.
Harwood says they are hoping to fund the project through capital reserves in the Parks and Recreation budget.
In July of 2016, the field at Errol Russell Park was renamed Stan Slack Memorial Ballpark.
Work to the parks exterior hasn't slowed down the Sarnia Senior Braves, who are one of the parks major tenants. They're currently enjoy one of the best summers in their history, and are the top ranked Senior 'AAA' team in the province. Players on the team have said the field remains in great condition.
