Soper Creek Park baseball diamond in Bowmanville reopens after upgrades backed by nearly $110,000 grant

The baseball diamond at Soper Creek Park in Bowmanville has reopened after upgrades funded by nearly $110,000 through Jays Care Foundation’s Field Of Dreams granting program, the Municipality of Clarington announced.

For local players and families, the reopening means the park’s hardball diamond now has updated features intended to improve safety and comfort for games and practices.

According to the municipality, the project included new players’ benches, a new backstop, improved surface grading and covered dugouts that provide shade and shelter from rain.

The municipality marked the reopening with a public event at Soper Creek Park on Sunday. The municipality said hundreds of residents attended.

Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster, members of council, dignitaries, the Clarington Baseball Association and local athletes cut the ribbon at the park, the municipality said.

The municipality said the event included skills and drills stations, a Rep Orioles game, inflatables, lawn games and face painting.

Youth aged 7 to 14 also took part in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run, a skills-based competition. The municipality identified four Clarington participants who will advance to the Team Championship round at the Rogers Centre later this year: Broderick B. (7U/8U), Noah H. (9U/10U), Cooper W. (11U/12U) and Parker S. (13U/14U).

“A dream baseball diamond like this is sure to inspire the next generation of athletes while strengthening our community connections,” Foster said in the municipal announcement. He added that the diamond is now “a safer, more welcoming space” for young athletes.

The municipality said the upgrades were supported through Jays Care Foundation’s Field Of Dreams granting program.