Caught in the act
Joyriders who caused significant damage to ballfield abandon stranded vehicle
Cape Breton Regional Police confirm they are investigating vandalism to a ballfield after a couple decided to go joyriding around the field on Thursday.
The damage was significant, but the couple hadn’t planned on getting their vehicle stuck in the infield of the ballfield on the corner of Reserve Street and Phalen Road, owned by TJ Tracey Cremation and Burial.
“I’m very upset about it,” said owner Trevor Tracey. “I have no idea what these people were thinking but they weren’t thinking at all.
“To me, it’s no different driving on my ballfield or on my front lawn.”
Trevor said when he purchased the former Holy Family Church, he ended up getting the ballfield as well, which had been owned by the church. He said knowing the importance of the ballfield area to the community, it was important to see it saved.
“It’s a great place whether for a baseball game or to see kids down there flying their kites,” he said.
He said the field is well-used by the community’s ball teams.
“To the women’s softball league, that field is sacred to them. They take great pride in it. We never have a problem with litter down there, they keep it spotless.”
Tracey said he will see to it this incident of vandalism is followed up on.
“I don’t think they should get away with this.”
Trevor’s sister, Debbie Tracey, said a couple of neighbours actually came to the funeral home mid-afternoon on Thursday to inform them of what was going on.
“Our neighbor told us we should call police as there’s a car spinning around in the ballfield,” she said. “They told us the vehicle got stuck and then they witnessed a man, woman and young child getting out of it.”
Debbie said when she went out to look the couple and child were gone but their car was still in the field, all locked up.
She said it’s not easy to access the ball field. The entrance from Phalen Road is blocked and one has to drive around their business’ parking lot on Reserve Street and through to the back of their building.
“I couldn’t believe it, as you can’t get down there accidently. It had to have been deliberate.”
Trevor said they had the vehicle towed.
He said the Cape Breton Regional Municipality mows the field and helps with upkeep. He said they have “phenomenal” neighbours who keep an eye on the field, adding “it’s a community effort.”
Trevor said he had even been working on planning a community Easter egg hunt for kids at the ballfield.
“I want to make it into a community hub.”
Dist. 9 Coun. George MacDonald said some of the residents in the area called him Thursday evening to tell him what happened.
“They said a car had been driving in circles around the ballfield, tearing it up,” he said. “Then it got stuck in the field.” MacDonald said he is aware that police are trying to track down the owners of the vehicle. He went to see the field himself and found tracks covering the entire field.
“It’s a real popular field, ( it’s) really upsetting to see this. “
He said the field was dedicated to the late Emma Currie, the former principal of the old MacKay’s Corner School. He said when the church was sold the ballfield went with it. He said the ballfield was regularly used by the Glace Bay women’s softball league for years.
“We were shocked as we used it for our recreation programs but Trevor Tracey has been so good, excellent in allowing us to use it.”
MacDonald said the police and CBRM staff are involved now.
He said it’s not known yet how much it will cost to repair the field.
“We will be seeing if the car owners have insurance, as this is going to be expensive to fix. However, that’s a police matter now.”
Kathy Donovan, president of the Glace Bay Women’s Softball League, lives near the ballfield. When she got home at about 4: 14 p. m. on Thursday, she saw a man in the field with the car.
“The car was stuck he was trying to get it out.”
Donovan said she talked to another neighbor who witnessed the vandalism. That neighbor told her she saw a man and a woman with a baby get out of the car.
Donovan said before their league started using the ballfield about nine years ago, it hadn’t been used in 20 years, so it took a great deal of effort to get it back into playing shape.
“We did a lot of work to that field. We were pretty discouraged to get that news last night (Thursday). Everyone seems to keep an eye on it for us.”
She said Trevor Tracey, who owns the field, has been “excellent” to the league since he took over the former church and property.
She sent him photos of the damage.
“He was really discouraged and disgusted.”
She said Craig Crocker with the CBRM parks and grounds department contacted her on Friday to let her know they won’t let the softball league be left without a field.
“He said not to worry about it as they would give us any help we need. He has been fantastic to the league over the last nine years.”
Charlene Bradbury, a member of the Glace Bay women’s softball league, said she went to see the damage.
“It was upsetting, wondering why someone would do that,” she said. She said the field wasn’t in good shape when they first start using it years ago.
“We went down with our hands, the shovels and the rakes and spent quite a bit of time fixing it up so it would be playable. To have someone go and drive on it like that without any regard for anyone else is really upsetting.”
“It’s used four times a week during the summer. It’s kind of our baby.”
Staff Sgt. Stephen MacKinnon of the CBRPS said an investigation into the vandalism is continuing.