Nanaimo's Caledonia Park Gets Upgrade

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Improvements to cost $400,000
Will accommodate VI Raiders games

You may recall last year the city of Nanaimo came under serious criticism for the condition of the facility at Caledonia Park. Visiting football teams had to make use of a tent as a change room, no shower facilities and limited bathroom amenities. The aging bleachers have been considered a safety issue for a long time, but it seems other projects in the city got priority over Caledonia Park.

The idea of somehow being able to make use of Rotary Bowl or Serauxman Stadium as a major sports field has resulted in improvements to Caledonia being pushed to the back burner for years. In it's present state it is not very attractive to many users who prefer the artificial turf fields which also have lights. It was noted by Councillor McKay that there is bent-up need for another field and Parks and Rec chief Richard Harding agreed, there would be no shortage of groups who could make use of an improved field.

Councillor Bestwick expressed his frustration that improvements to this facility have been kicked around for years. While he supported the improvements in their present form he would have liked to see a more comprehensive plan to bring the facility up to the standard a community of our size should be able to support. Bestwick pointed out that while Nanaimo is hosting the Summer Games, Caledonia field is not being used for any of the events because of it's run down condition.

Councillor Kipp noted that city council recently spent $200,000 on the end wall of the old theatre on Victoria Road which supports very few users, but is frustrated by the seeming reluctance to commit to a serious upgrade to Caledonia field which benefits many thousand.

The improvement plan will see the existing bleachers and the roof over them removed and replaced with new aluminum bleachers. The existing building on site will be added onto which will provide for change room facilities and a shower area and improved bathrooms. The exisitng oil furnace will be replaced with electric heating.

The improvements will make the field acceptable for the VI Raiders to host championship games as well as attracting other users in the city such as soccer and minor football as well as groups from VIU and the school district.