A 400-seat bleacher and media/coaching booth is now in place facing the East Field off Seventh St. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

south end amenity

Bleachers & media booth completes Harewood artificial turf field complex

Nov 2, 2025 | 10:21 AM

NANAIMO — Just in time for high school football season, a 400-seat set of bleachers and media/coaching booth were recently installed at Harewood Centennial Park.

The new infrastructure faces the East Field, primarily used for football and soccer as part of well-used facility where the Sherry Fields natural grass playing space long stood.

Charlotte Davis, the City’s deputy director of parks and natural areas, said having suitable seating is an important addition for the many highly attended events the facility hosts, including tournaments.

“It really creates such a great vibe. It’s really fantastic to see those bleachers and great for the community, we’re very excited.”

These 400-seat bleachers, along with media/coaching booth, will aid high-level football and soccer games. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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After opening in April 2024, supportive infrastructure, led by the bleachers and media/coaching booth were the primary complementary elements waiting to be added to the artificial turf fields within Harewood Centennial Park.

A scoreboard at the East Field adjacent to John Barsby Community School, LED lighting surrounding the complex and covered areas for players on the sidelines of both fields are key aspects of the project.

Providing school-based and community level sports, including football, soccer, field lacrosse and minor baseball have been staged at the facility for the past year-and-a-half, with usage maximized during the fall and winter thanks to the lighting.

Davis said recent outreach with various user groups demonstrated how well received the facility has been so far.

“We are able to offer so many more hours of play on a well-maintained field versus something that might ware with the poor weather — that’s just a major benefit with our artificial turf. It’s great to have that asset in Harewood.”

Davis added the amenity-packed facility better supports high-level tournaments to take place locally.

The entire artificial turf project at Harewood Centennial Park cost nearly $10 million, Davis said, which included senior government grants and contributions from School District 68.

Davis said there are no plans for more artificial playing facilities at this time beyond the five surfaces the City supplies now at three facilities

She noted the artificial surface adjacent to Nanaimo District Secondary School is slated to be replaced in 2028.

“Every ten years you replace the artificial turf carpet, the shock pad gets to stay in place, so we’ll be doing that at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium.”

Multi-use West Field in the foreground, with the bleachers/media and coaching booth in the middle facing East Field. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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