Lacasse Baseball Park to see addition of dugouts thanks to St. Clair College donation

Bert Lacasse Baseball Park will be seeing further upgrades thanks to a donation by St. Clair College. 

During Tuesday's meeting, Tecumseh council was presented with a report for the Lacasse Baseball Park Upgrades capital project budget to be increased by $375,000 to accommodate the addition of in-ground dugouts.

$250,000 of the $375,000 project cost will be paid for by St. Clair, with the remaining $125,000 to be paid for through a budget increase funded through the Infrastructure Reserve.

Council approved the report.

Construction on Phase 1 of the Lacasse Ball Diamond began in early February this year, with improvements such as a new grandstand, increased seating capacity, team locker rooms, a training facility, and improved public amenities, including washrooms and concessions. 

Phase 1 renovation didn't include construction of dugouts built into the ground. 

Gary McNamara, Tecumseh mayor, says this will be a great addition for the 2024 Canadian National Seniors Baseball Championships. 

"And to have that project completed, it bodes well because we're going to be showcasing, and those games are going to be televised across the nation. So, they're coming from B.C., to Newfoundland, to represent each province into the community, and when they see this park completed, it's going to be a major attraction."

Alicia Higgison, Tecumseh councillor, says it's going to be well loved by the community. 

"To know what the neighbourhood feels like when games are being played there, when those lights go up and you can hear everything. And watching kids play in that park, walk around that park, and look at that place, this is a minor investment to what it feels like to live in the community that invests in things like this."

Rick Tonial, Tecumseh councillor, says it's a beautiful park. 

"This park has always been a beacon for Tecumseh for people to know you go to Lacasse Park, that's the main thing. And now I believe it's going to be the next beacon for another 50 years. It looks so beautiful. It's just accenting the history of Tecumseh for the last 80-90 years that that park has been there."

A design for the new dugouts has been developed by the project architect, SFERA Architectural Associates and the Town's partners, the Tecumseh Thunder Baseball Club and St. Clair College.

Lacasse Park has been home to the St. Clair College Saints Baseball program since 2012.

The project is set to be completed by early 2024.