Multi-use cricket and soccer field project advances after committee debate on lighting, artificial turf and Field C upgrades
North Bay city council will decide Tuesday whether to move ahead with a proposed $5.9-million sports field project after the plan received unanimous backing at a recent Infrastructure and Operations Committee meeting.
If approved, the city will move ahead with a construction contract with Ellis Don to build a new multi-use sports facility and repair Field C at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex.
The project combines two previously planned initiatives: a new regulation cricket ground designed to accommodate both cricket and soccer, and long-awaited rehabilitation work on Field C, which has faced drainage and surface issues since opening.
See: North Bay sends $5.9M sports field project including cricket pitch to committee
“We await a decision to move on to construction,” Manager of Special Projects David Jackowski told councillors.
Council previously voted to refer the proposal to committee for further review after questions were raised about costs, design details, lighting, procurement, and the overall scope of the project.
The committee meeting allowed staff to explain the design and why the city bundled the cricket ground and Field C rehabilitation into a single contract.
Jackowski said combining the projects created efficiencies by using one contractor, one construction schedule, and one site mobilization.
The report before councillors recommends the construction of two new FIFA-sized artificial turf fields that can also function as a regulation cricket ground. The design includes a dedicated cricket wicket between the soccer fields, along with drainage infrastructure, fencing, player benches, accessible pathways, and underground electrical work for future lighting.
Field C would receive localized repairs, improved drainage, and a complete replacement of its artificial turf surface.
Councillor Jamie Lowery noted that much of the public discussion has focused on the cricket component, despite the broader scope.
“You’re getting a fixed Field C, you’re getting two FIFA-sized soccer fields, and you’re getting a cricket ground,” Lowery said.
A key factor throughout the discussion was time.
Jackowski said the city faces a critical deadline tied to $1.675 million in provincial funding through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund.
“The project was initiated mid-October 2025 from a project delivery perspective with a project deadline of March 31st, 2027,” he said. “That gave us approximately 17 months to completion.”
Jackowski said winter conditions effectively remove about five months from the available construction window.
Councillor Mark King asked whether the city had flexibility on the provincial funding deadline.
“No, we do not,” Jackowski replied. “From a construction perspective, we are very hard-pressed to meet those deadlines.”
Staff said eligible project expenses must be incurred before March 31, 2027, to qualify for the provincial funding.
Questions were also raised about the decision to use artificial turf instead of natural grass. Jackowski said artificial turf would significantly extend the playing season while reducing maintenance requirements.
“When we look at the available use days on an artificial turf versus a natural turf field, we’re looking at 214 days of use for artificial turf versus only 75 for natural turf,” he said.
He added that maintenance costs over the life of the fields are projected to be substantially lower than those of natural turf.
Staff also emphasized that the facility was designed as a shared-use sports venue rather than a stand-alone cricket facility.
“We wanted to make the fields multi-use,” said Ian Kilgour, the city’s director of community development and growth.
Lighting became another point of discussion.
Councillors learned that field lighting is not included in the current construction budget, although underground infrastructure is being installed to support future installation. Staff estimated a lighting package would add roughly $1.56 million to the project cost.
Councillor Tanya Vrebosch said she would like council to examine that possibility in the future.
“I’d rather do it once, do it right,” she said.
Staff said modern LED lighting would likely allow the project to proceed without a major electrical service upgrade and that future lighting could be added without redoing completed work.
Another point clarified during the committee meeting was that construction has not yet begun and cannot proceed until council authorizes the change order.
“There’s no work being executed at this point?” Lowery asked.
“That is correct,” Jackowski replied.
The cricket pitch element has been talked about for some years.
Following nearly an hour of questions, every member of the committee voted in favour of recommending that the project proceed.
The recorded vote was unanimous.
If council approves the recommendation on Tuesday, construction of the new multi-use field would begin upon award, with completion in November 2026. Field C repairs would begin Sept. 1, 2026, and finish in April 2027.
