'The Monster' at Serauxmen Stadium was torn down recently due to safety concerns. The fencing surrounding the field shows signs of wear. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

DILAPIDATED MONSTER

Serauxmen’s ‘Green Monster’ torn down due to safety concerns

Jul 18, 2020 | 7:34 AM

NANAIMO — A beloved fixture of Serauxmen Stadium has been torn down.

A 24-foot tall wall in right field, affectionately called the ‘Green Monster’ was deemed to be a safety risk by City staff during an inspection in April.

Art Groot, director of facility and parks operations, said the condition of the plywood and wood support structure was well past just needing maintenance.

“It was determined it was just way beyond serviceable life and definitely a hazard. There were some incidents in the past of sheets of plywood being blown off in wind, so a decision was made to bring it all down to the eight foot level.”

The City will spend approximately $200,000 removing, designing and reconstructing a 24-foot fence in the outfield.

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Groot said the City consulted several user groups who made it clear they wanted the green monster to return in any redesign.

“The stadium has a reputation because of that wall. There’s meaning to the wall and how you can play a ball off the green monster due to its height,” Groot said.

More details on the proposed design is due to come before council by the end of July.

Part of the project is the installation of netting to a height of 40 feet behind the green monster. The mesh will protect people on the NDSS turf field behind the stadium from balls hit out of the park.

Around $253,000 is earmarked to replace the remainder of the stadium’s outfield fencing which is in similar states of disrepair.

Money for the project has been added to the 2020 budget, while the City will offset some of the cost through a tender for the Bastion St. parkade coming in under expectations.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley