DELTA Mayor George V. Harvie, Delta Councillors, and a host of dignitaries and local lacrosse teams officially opened the Ladner Covered Multi-Sport Court at a grand opening celebration held on Saturday, August 27.
A series of exhibition games were also held by local teams as part of the festivities.
Located in the civic precinct beside Ladner Leisure Centre, the City was awarded $1 million in grant funding for this $2.1 million upgrade through the BC Government’s Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program.
Additionally, in late June, the City was approached by the Thomas Haydon Memorial Award Alumni who wished to donate an outdoor scoreboard and two shot clocks in memory of the late Thomas Haydon, a distinguished local lacrosse player and Delta firefighter.
The Ladner Covered Multi-Sport Court project was first identified in 2017, when a delegation by the Delta Lacrosse Association presented the idea to Delta’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission to allow for year-round seasonal play. With its direct benefit to the community, the project was approved by Harvie and Delta Council for funding in Delta’s Financial Plan.
Equipped with a new roof and lighting, a donated outdoor scoreboard and two shot clocks, the Ladner Covered Multi-Sport Court now provides rain protection to play or practice outdoors year-round. This facility also increases the capacity of the City’s popular sports infrastructure, providing more hours of use for local teams. This will, in turn, help relieve the significant demand on arenas during seasonal changes in the early spring and late summer.
“As a lifelong athlete, I know just how much this new facility will be appreciated and enjoyed by players, families, and spectators for years to come. Whether young or old, sports help to bring people together and remind us how much we all have in common, and I am looking forward to seeing this space become a hub for our community,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
“We heard the Delta Lacrosse Association’s need for a covered outdoor facility for year-round play and I’m so pleased with the outcome of the Ladner Covered Multi-Sport Court. This project presented an opportunity to benefit Delta’s local sports associations as well as members of the community and is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together,” noted Harvie.
“Thanks to the support and partnerships from the Provincial government and Thomas Haydon Memorial Award Alumni, we have successfully delivered on this promise to our lacrosse community with an upgraded, multi-million dollar Ladner Covered Multi-Sport Court. As your Mayor and Council, we look forward to making future investments in projects that support our community members and sports organizations in their athletic pursuits.”
David Glover, President, Delta Lacrosse Association, said: “Our game is now the fastest growing sport in North America, with many new families and athletes discovering what makes it so special. The City of Delta adding a roof to our box is an incredible contribution to our sport. To have a dedicated lacrosse facility is a game changer for lacrosse in Delta. This roof will allow our athletes to train and compete year-round. It will allow us to continue to grow the game in our community, and compete against other organizations with similar spaces.”
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