NORTH RIVER, N.S. – The North River Ball Park had been in a state of decline for a few years, with less and less kids, teams and organizations using it each season.
When a group of parents realized the park’s future was uncertain, though, they decided to step up and take charge.
“It was to the point that if we didn’t step up, it was going to go away,” said Amy Harvey, one of the managers of the North River Recreation Softball Club.
“Our kids love it, and we saw a need for it here, so we really didn’t want to see it go to waste.”
Now, after Harvey, husband Clinton and friends Darrell and Angela MacDonald took over management of it last year, the park is on its way to regaining the life it once had as a new softball season rolls around for the Aces.
“Our kids and the need of the community to keep it going is what inspired us to take over,” said Darrell MacDonald, another club manager.
“There is nothing else like this ball park for softball in North River, let alone Colchester County. There is a one diamond field in Brookfield, but this is the only two-diamond field in the county.”
Since taking over, the new management was able to work with the municipality to set up in-season maintenance of the fields, as well as restore some of the on-site facilities needed to host games and tournaments.
“There was no running water, no toilets, and no electricity, but we were able to get all that back,” said Harvey.
“We’re working really closely with Craig Burgess and the Colchester municipality, who have helped us a lot. We got the canteen back up and running too, and it actually made a profit last year which was nice.”
The club has a few goals for the park this year, including getting the scoreboard working, replacing burnt-out field lights and fixing the field’s nets, which have been left in dismay from storms.
Along with a few community tournaments, the club is preparing to host the Softball Nova Scotia U12 championships.
“We are aiming to increase our registration numbers this year too, and are hoping to get a community partner to help us out with jerseys for the U12 teams, as they will be playing in the provincials,” said Harvey.
On Tuesday, May 1, the club will hold its registration night at North River elementary for boys and girls in divisions up to U18. Registration will run from 6 to 7 p.m., and kids can be registered online as well at northriverrec.weebly.com.
“Softball has sort of slowed down in the last few years, so we are hoping to get more kids out here playing again,” said Clinton Harvey.
“We are also looking for coaches and volunteers as well, so if a kid registers to play, the parents can volunteer to do something if they want to.”
