Harewood Centennial Park has substantial new additions in the form of two artificial sports fields. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

game on

Artificial turf fields open at Nanaimo’s Harewood Centennial Park

Apr 22, 2024 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — A pair of multi-use artificial sports fields in the south end are now serving vastly growing demand.

On Saturday, April 20 newly constructed side-by-side all-weather artificial fields surrounded by LED lighting for evening use opened to replace Sherry Fields at Harewood Centennial Park on Seventh St. at Howard Ave.

Overjoyed with the new facility is Rob Stevenson, athletic director at John Barsby Secondary School and head coach of the school’s highly successful senior varsity football team.

“It’s going to permeate everything we do a lot here now, but our opportunity to do more is vastly increased with that facility next door,” Stevenson said.

View of East Field toward Seventh St. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Known as East Field, Stevenson said the facility adjacent to the high school is “a massive step up” from their previous field and will unlock an exciting new era.

He said the shock absorbing, fast-draining fields lend to safety and speed, which will be vastly superior to their former field, nicknamed “The Cage”, which infamously had end-zones three yards too short.

“Even the quality of play will be better, there’s landmarks on the field in terms of the numbers, hashmarks, sidelines. It’s something we’ve dreamt about for the last 28 years,” Stevenson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The old undersized Barsby Field was home to the school’s successful football program since 1996. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The complex will also create a healthier community, reduce crime and boost school and Harewood area morale, Stevenson pointed out.

In addition to football, soccer, field lacrosse and minor baseball users will also benefit from the new facility, all rapidly growing organized sports locally.

Both fields are outfitted with covered areas on the sidelines for players.

A scoreboard is installed beyond the north field goal upright above East Field.

A central plaza, seating for 400 spectators facing East Field, along with a media/coach’s booth will be installed in the coming weeks, as will additional parking off Seventh St.

A central plaza under construction will link the two fields. Bleachers and a coach’s/media booth facing East will be added. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Richard Harding, the City’s general manager of community services, said artificial playing surfaces are much easier to maintain, only requiring closures of two to three hours a week for grooming and cleaning.

He said conceivably the fields could operate 24/7.

“What it really provides the user groups is just year-round access to these fields. It’s an assurance that they are open, unless we get a lot of snow, these fields never close,” Harding told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He noted sewn-in bases on all four corners of both fields will immediately serve Nanaimo Minor Baseball’s U7 and U6 divisions for the remainder of their spring seasons.

Harding said John Barsby Secondary School has access to both fields for its sports and physical education programs, while the facility is rented to user groups on evenings and weekends.

West Field is lined for multiple sports: soccer, field lacrosse and young minor baseball players. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Harding said Harewood Centennial Park’s many upgrades in recent years provides numerous recreation services for a wide range of users.

“It’s a major destination park.” He said.

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said he and his Council colleagues are proud of what they’ve accomplished at Harewood Centennial Park.

Krog said the capital commitment will be well worth the return.

“These two new artificial turf fields will afford six times the opportunities of use that exist with an ordinary grass field,” Krog noted.

Krog pointed to ever-increasing demand for recreational amenities throughout Nanaimo, including the rapidly growing south end as reasons to respond with this type of investment.

“Let alone what exists now, the demand and the population is there,” he said. “The neighbourhood merits it and the people need it. We need our young people and families to be able to recreate in their neighbourhoods.”

The City of Nanaimo is on the hook for the majority of the $9.9 million budget, which is propped up by senior government grants, as well as contributions from School District 68.

There are now five artificial playing surfaces in Nanaimo: two at Beban Park’s Merle Logan Field and q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium at NDSS.

A view of West Field from the Howard Ave. access point to Harewood Centennial Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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