The City of Nanaimo's Scott Newlands, Art Groot and Mike Strain are coordinating the addition of new LED lighting to allow for late evening games at Serauxmen Stadium. A new scoreboard  will also be installed. Crews are slated to begin the job on March 16 and the project is expected to wrap-up in July. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Let there be light

Lighting seen as game changer for Nanaimo’s Serauxmen Stadium

Mar 11, 2020 | 7:25 AM

NANAIMO — Soon-to-be-installed lighting at Serauxmen Stadium will shine new opportunities for in-demand senior baseball diamonds in Nanaimo.

The City expects eight poles, each between 70 and 80 feet high outfitted with LED lighting, will be operational by July at a cost of just over $1 million. A new enlarged scoreboard beyond left-centre field will also be installed.

Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association president Mike Holyk called the first lighted ball diamond locally “a huge development” which he expects will open seven additional game or practice slots weekly.

“This investment in the infrastructure I think puts us on the same level as the Timbermen program, the Clippers or the Raiders. We’re excited,” Holyk told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Availability for baseball fields equipped with 90-foot base paths in Nanaimo is tight, Holyk said. A dozen local teams share Serauxmen Stadium and nearby Mariner Field.

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Holyk believes lights and other potential upgrades at Serauxmen Stadium will breathe new life into the baseball community and even casual fans.

“This is an opportunity to see games under the lights which has a certain magic to it…The community will enjoy that aspect as well not just the players on the field,” Holyk said.

Richard Harding, the City’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture, said adding lights to Nanaimo’s top baseball venue is part of a long-term plan, unrelated to the recent announcement of a West Coast Baseball league franchise coming to town.

“It helps with the shoulder season, things can start a little bit earlier and play later in the season. It’s a big addition for here,” Harding said during a recent walk-through of Serauxmen Stadium.

Harding said the City and Serauxmen Stadium Amateur Baseball Association are discussing several potential phased upgrades for the facility, including expanded seating and artificial turf.

Harding said the possible upgrades are conceptual and would need to be endorsed by City Council.

Art Groot, the City’s director of facilities and parks maintenance, said he doesn’t foresee any light pollution concerns from Serauxmen Stadium’s new lights.

“The fact that we’re in the middle of this sport zone and very little residential around, I don’t see there being a negative impact for the residents of Nanaimo.”

Groot said LED lighting at the artificial turf field next door at NDSS generated “little to no complaints.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes