Owen Sound City Hall. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting)
The city is holding off some planned upgrades to Duncan McLellan Park in Owen Sound.
Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter told councillors during a capital budget meeting Monday renovations to the northeast end baseball park included in the 2024 spending plan won’t be happening this year.
“But rather, to bring through the community services committee a report that would detail and refine the work that’s being proposed,” Coulter says.
The city’s multi-year capital plan included $170,000 in 2024 for a refresh of the north diamond at Duncan McLellan Park. Re-grading the outfield, improvements to the infield and installing new LED lights were among the renovations planned.
Another $520,000 is included in the 2024-28 capital plan for renewal work at the south ball diamond in 2025 and Duncan Major in 2026.
But Coulter says the city wants to engage with users first before finalizing a proposal for renovations at Duncan McLellan Park.
Owen Sound also recently hired a new manager of parks and open space — Eckhard Pastrik. And Coulter says she’d like to allow him an opportunity to see the diamonds this summer, before making recommendations on priorities for improvements.