Inclusive baseball gets a boost with opening of new Kingston diamond

A new junior baseball diamond at Woodbine Park officially opened on Saturday.

A new junior baseball diamond at Woodbine Park officially opened on Saturday. The recreational site is a collaborative project involving the City of Kingston, the Toronto Blue Jays’ charitable arm, local baseball volunteers and private-sector partners. Mayor Bryan Paterson joined representatives from the Jays Care Foundation, Kingston Thunder Baseball, TD Bank and city staff for the official opening ceremony and first pitch at what is now known as Diamond No. 5 at the city’s west-end baseball complex.

The new field was developed through a partnership that included the City of Kingston, Kingston Thunder Baseball, Taggart Construction and the Jays Care Foundation , which supports youth baseball programs and community infrastructure projects across Canada. The foundation’s Field of Dreams program invests in building and upgrading baseball diamonds to create more accessible places for children and youth to play the sport. Before Paterson threw the first pitch, he shared a few words of gratitude.

“It is so exciting to be standing here in this space with all of you,” Paterson said during the opening ceremony. “This is something we’ve been looking forward to for a couple of years now, this amazing new junior baseball diamond here in Woodbine Park.” Paterson said the facility will provide opportunities for young players and families for years to come while highlighting the value of community partnerships.

“A space like this doesn’t happen without partnership, without working together,” he said. “We want to send a very special thank you to Jays Care Foundation for their investment. We want to give a big thank you to Kingston Thunder Baseball and a big thank you to Taggart Construction, all of whom have helped make today a reality.”

The diamond is expected to be used by a variety of youth baseball teams in the Kingston area, including Kingston Thunder Baseball’s Challenger Baseball program . The program is part of the national Challenger Baseball initiative, operated by Jays Care Foundation in partnership with Baseball Canada and Little League Canada, to provide adaptive baseball opportunities for players living with physical and cognitive disabilities. Kingston Thunder launched its Challenger program in 2022 and offers programming for athletes with diverse abilities in a supportive environment, according to the organization’s website.

The Challenger team was on hand Saturday, participating in skills stations run by Jays Care Foundation representatives. Randy Casford, executive director of Challenger Baseball in Kingston, said the local program began after he learned of support available through the Blue Jays’ charitable foundation. “I sent them an email and asked if we could do it out in Kingston,” Casford said.

“They said, ‘Sure.’ ” Casford said the program serves athletes whose needs may make traditional baseball leagues less accessible. “It’s a program for athletes with different special needs that sometimes may not be able to play in a baseball league,” he said.

“It’s a really safe space.” The local program serves participants ranging from four years old to adults in their late 40s, he said. “They all support each other and care about each other,” Casford said.

“I’ve coached a lot of sports, rep baseball, and rep hockey. This is probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever been a part of.” In a statement, Jays Care Foundation said it believes all children should have access to baseball regardless of their background or ability.

“As the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, we believe kids, regardless of background or ability, should have the opportunity to learn and play the game of baseball,” the foundation said. The organization said upgraded and newly constructed diamonds help provide safe, inclusive spaces where young people can develop confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging through sport. For Kingston’s baseball community, Saturday’s opening represented more than the addition of another field.

Organizers said the project created a new home for youth baseball while expanding opportunities for inclusive programming that ensures more children can take part in the game. “As some of you may know, baseball is a real passion of mine,” Paterson said. “I’m so excited that kids and families are going to be able to experience it and be able to love the game, and who knows what major league baseball players we are going to be able to crank out of this place?”

Bihall@postmedia.com