Cash for baseball lights
IF you build it, they will come.
That’s what Herbert MP Phillip Thompson is banking on, as he promises $700,000 for upgrades to Jabiru Park so locals can play baseball under lights.
The election promise comes after Mr Thompson put pressure on his party to cough up the cash for the Baseball Association Townsville home and for the Northern Beaches Suns grounds.
Now, both sporting clubs will be able to play after dark if the Coalition wins government.
Mr Thompson said the project would mean Baseball Association Townsville could have after-dark fixtures, to keep young players out of the hot North Queensland sun, and to host training sessions after the sun goes down.
He said the association had 10 senior teams, including two women’s teams, and plenty of junior players.
“Baseball Association Townsville have told me how they’ve grown so much they didn’t have enough hours in the day to play and train at the facility in Townsville,” Mr Thompson said.
“Working together with the association we’ve now been able to secure a commitment to provide funding for the project if the Coalition is re-elected, which is a fantastic outcome not just for the players, but the local community too.
“Unfortunately the fields and clubhouse have become a hotspot for crime and vandalism, so having more activity at Jabiru Park more often will help curb some of that as well.”
The commitment for cash comes as one of Townsville’s homegrown talents, Shiori Hoshino, is selected to play in the Australian Women’s Baseball Showcase in Victoria for the Brisbane Bandits.
The games will be broadcast on Kayo over the weekend.
Association president Daniel White said the lighting project would allow the organisation to nurture more local talent and grow the game.
“Lighting at Jabiru Park is something we’ve needed for a very long time because due to the growth of senior teams who can only train outside of normal work hours, we haven’t been able to find somewhere else that can safely hold baseball practices, or allow our players to develop properly,” Mr White said.
“Because of the heat and humidity, we only play in the cooler months, but lighting would enable year-round use. We also want to be able to use Jabiru Park for more than just baseball, and the opportunities for things like food truck nights and other social activities are endless.”