Levin delivers out-of-left-field dream
Cricket fans are familiar with the hallowed grounds of Wellington’s Basin Reserve and Auckland’s Eden Park but what about Levin’s Donnelly Park?
The name could have more prominence if plans to bring firstclass cricket matches to Levin come to fruition.
Like the Field Of Dreams movie scenario of ‘‘build it and they will come’’, the Levin Cricket Foundation hopes a $160,000 expansion to its indoor training centre at Donnelly Park will help it meet New Zealand Cricket’s ‘‘warrant of fitness’’ standards for first-class match venues.
The project would see a second level built to the Horowhenua town’s Basil Netten Indoor Centre, with separate changing and bathroom facilities for two cricket teams, an umpires room, kitchenette and veranda.
Horowhenua Ka¯piti Cricket Association chief executive Dave O’Brien said the closest venue currently able to host first-class matches was the Basin Reserve.
‘‘There is potential collaboration opportunities with both Cricket Wellington and Central Districts due to Levin’s proximity, which is exciting for our community,’’ O’Brien said.
Throughout the Central Districts region, only three venues currently met standards required to host Plunket Shield matches – McLean Park and Nelson Park, both in Napier, and Saxton Oval in Nelson.
‘‘Our goal is to bring first-class cricket to Levin. It would be great to host our own Central Districts Stags but the local cricketing community will benefit most from the improvements,’’ O’Brien said.
‘‘However, if we get our facility right, we could put our hands up to host other big matches, such as Women’s World Cup or Under-19s World Cup events.’’
Construction should begin next week and be completed in time for domestic matches between the Central Districts Hinds and Wellington Blaze women’s teams, from November 24 to 26. A Central Districts A v Wellington A men’s match was scheduled for January.
‘‘The Central Districts Association have given us this golden opportunity to showcase our fantastic facilities and wider community,’’ O’Brien said.
Central Districts Cricket Association chief executive Pete de Wet said he fully supported the Levin Cricket Foundation’s plans for Donnelly Park.
‘‘To have another option will be good for us but, equally, it would also benefit the community there.‘‘
The expansion had been made possible after Horowhenua District Council last week approved a $100,000 no-interest loan to the foundation.