The growing ranks of juniors at the Essendon Baseball Club will soon be able to step up to the plate on a new natural turf baseball field thanks to $100,000 from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Sport John Eren joined club members at Boeing Reserve in Strathmore Heights to announce the funding towards the new Chris Lane Memorial Junior Baseball Field. The field is dedicated to the promising home-grown baseball talent whose life was tragically cut short in 2013.
The project is one of over 90 to benefit from the $180 million Community Sports Infrastructure Fund that recently received a $60 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.
The 250 strong Essendon Baseball Club is the only baseball club in the Moonee Valley district and has a fast-growing junior base.
As the club has only one dedicated senior synthetic baseball field, the juniors have been struggling on adjacent cricket grass ovals not suited for baseball.
The Chris Lane Memorial Junior Baseball Field project will deliver a dedicated junior field for baseball, softball and t-ball complete with natural turf, drainage, fencing and seating to meet little league baseball standards.
Once complete the new field will be the perfect base for junior development as well as local and district competition.
The funding is part of the Labor Government’s ongoing investment in sports and active recreation – encouraging all Victorians to get out there and get active.
Across Victoria, the Labor Government has invested more than $420 million in community sport and recreation facilities and earlier this year provided almost half-a-billion-dollars in the Victorian Budget to support sport and active recreation at all levels.
Minister Eren acknowledged the Essendon Baseball Club and Major League baseball for their commitment to the project and combined $142,500 financial contribution.
As noted by Minister for Sport John Eren
"Growing numbers of boys and girls, men and women are signing up to play baseball at local clubs like the Essendon Baseball Club, however many are struggling with inadequate facilities."
"These new junior baseball field facilities will provide more opportunities for Essendon juniors to get active and play the sport they love."
As noted by Member for Essendon Danny Pearson
"Sports clubs are the heart and soul of local communities – we’re giving Essendon clubs the facilities they need to grow and welcome more members."
