Committee looking at building a second baseball field in Chatham

While plans are still in the preliminary stages, there is work being done behind-the-scenes to potentially build a second regulation-sized baseball diamond in Chatham.

Currently, there is only one baseball field for players 14 years and older in Chatham, and that field is Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park.

A committee, called the Field of Dreams committee, has been formed to work towards building a new baseball field in Chatham. They are looking at creating partnerships with various organizations and the municipality, fundraising, and look into what is needed to create a new baseball diamond.

Fergie Jenkins Field is a busy place in the summer and even into the fall, with men’s leagues, minor baseball teams, and starting this summer the Intercounty Baseball League’s Chatham Barnstormers.

The committee is also looking at the possibility of building a fully-accessible challenger baseball field for those with cognitive and/or physical disabilities.

The committee plans to meet and work with the municipality in the new year for the planning, feasibility and potential location for the project.

There has long been a need for a second ball diamond in Chatham. Whenever there is a tournament, teams often have to travel 30 minutes north to Wallaceburg to use their diamond on the first and sometimes second day of a three-day tournaments, to get games in.