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From field of dreams to reality, the new Trent Sports Fields complex is now officially open, following a special event held earlier today that brought together all of the partners who made this new community complex possible, including representatives from the University, the City of Peterborough, the Jays Care Foundation, and others.

“We’re very excited to have partnered with the City of Peterborough, the Peterborough Baseball Association, and the Jays Care Foundation to make this field of dreams a reality,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “As we celebrate this important milestone for our Symons campus and the facility that will be available to our students and the greater Trent community, we look forward to also hosting the larger community on our campus.”

President Groarke and City of Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett were joined at the official unveiling of the $1.97 million project by Richard Witchel, executive director of the Jays Care Foundation, and Rob Butler, Toronto Blue Jays alumni who was onsite to sign autographs. The Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, provided a $100,000 Field of Dreams investment for the project, which was used to provide lighting for the sport fields.

“With the opening of this new baseball facility, more children in our community will have the opportunity to play baseball, be a part of a game that emphasizes teamwork, and develop life skills through participating in sports. Jays Care Foundation strengthened the partnerships that helped make this possible, joining the City of Peterborough, Trent University and the local baseball community to expand the opportunities for the youth in the Peterborough Region,” remarked Mayor Bennett.

The Trent Sports Fields project is a cooperative project between the City of Peterborough and Trent University, with support from the Peterborough Baseball Association (PBA) and the Peterborough Recreational Baseball Association (PRBA). Located at the corner of Nassau Mills Road and Pioneer Road on the East bank of Trent University, the complex includes:

• A major-sized baseball field including grass infield, irrigation system, players’ dugouts, pitchers’ bullpen, sports field lighting and outfield fencing;
• A natural turf rectangular sport field to accommodate rugby, field lacrosse and soccer, meeting the IRB (rugby), FIFA (soccer) and IFL (lacrosse) requirements for field dimensions and including an irrigation system, sports field lighting and safety fencing;
• Parking and pedestrian walkways.

“The addition of a new regulation sized hardball diamond means minor baseball can expand by up to 30 per cent and add new teams,” commented Councillor Dean Pappas, “This facility will allow us to host new tournaments that previously were unavailable to Peterborough.”

Speaking of the impact of this project on the University, Deborah Bright-Brundle, director of Athletics and Recreation at Trent, added: “This is a particularly exciting day for Trent Athletics and Trent student-athletes. The new fields will expand Excalibur varsity training for our soccer, rugby and lacrosse programs, allow for more participation and programming in campus recreation opportunities for all our students, and also increase Trent Excalibur Sport Camp offerings during the summer months. The Trent Sports Fields also provide a great opportunity to attract sports tourism to the Peterborough area.”

The Trent Sports Fields project is one of many north end developments in the works between the City of Peterborough and Trent University. Others include the development of the Trent Research and Innovation Park, as well as more growth in sport and recreational facilities with a new arena complex, both to be built on the East Bank of Trent’s Symons campus.