Marnie Audia can’t quite believe how smoothly — and quickly — everything has come together.
Earlier this year, Trail city council signed off on $450,000 worth of improvements to Andy Bilesky Park ahead of the 2026 provincial little league baseball championships and 2028 Canadian championships. But most of the work was expected to take place in 2027.
Instead, the plans have been sped up to the point where in a little over two months, both fields have been re-levelled, the larger field now has proper drainage, and this week members of the Trail Smoke Eaters and Beaver Valley Nitehawks will start laying sod.
Audia, a Trail Little League board member and co-chair of the two upcoming tournaments, heard in June what it would cost to level the outfield. “I thought, I have some contractor contacts that would likely do this work in-kind for us,” she said. “And when they agreed and explained their availability, it was to start right away. We couldn’t really pass up the opportunity of all the free work.”
The City of Trail re-allocated $100,000 originally earmarked for Butler Park improvements to help buy irrigation materials, sod, and other things that could not be secured through donation. As the scope of work expanded, about 25 companies and organizations lined up to offer services for free or at a reduced cost. Audia estimates the donations have been worth over $150,000, including dump trucks full of sand. Some companies also provided on-site expertise.
“It’s been surreal because when I’m calling these people, everyone is just saying yes,” she said. “And they don’t have any personal ties, but it’s for the kids, it’s for the community. It’s actually amazing to see what the community has stepped up to do because a lot of it has been on short notice and right in the middle of construction season.
“I was even having contractors call me at night to plan their days. ‘Do you guys need help tomorrow trucking things out?'”
The city’s public works crews have also been highly supportive, Audia added, showing an “adaptability and capability to pivot on what was admittedly a large project dropped on them. All the guys working up here have been great, have a great attitude, and have been instrumental in pulling these final details of the ballpark together.”
The problems at Bilesky Park stemmed from the fact it was built on an old landfill. As the buried garbage settled over the years, it left the field with “a lot of dips and waves.” The smaller field had a four-foot (1.2-metre) grade difference from third base to centre field. In the larger field, water pooled behind the infield, and games often had to be cancelled after heavy rainstorms.
The fields have now been re-graded and dry wells have been buried to provide proper drainage. To complete the first phase of the project, a new irrigation system is being installed and about 62,000 square feet (5,700 square metres) of sod is expected to be laid on Wednesday and Thursday.
Among the work still to be completed: new fencing, laying down infield dirt, and replacing a little building behind home plate on the larger field. They would also like to livestream the provincials next year, but cell service at the park is spotty.
Audia said they’re seeking donations toward operational costs of hosting the tournaments and people with IT skills to help set up a media centre. Anyone who wants to help can contact them at [email protected].
While the work will benefit the upcoming tournaments, Audia said the larger field already met requirements to host provincial events. She said it was equally important to upgrade the small field, which is used by multiple teams daily. Both fields were used this year and work only began once the season ended.
Companies and groups who have been involved in the project include:
- Maple Leaf Power
- Impact Equipment
- Vincent Treeworks
- J-Star Excavations
- Firefighters union
- Simm Excavating
- Power Tech
- FortisBC
- Fortis Gas BC
- YRB
- United Rentals
- West K Concrete
- Trail Smoke Eaters
- Beaver Valley Nitehawks
- Rain Man Irrigation
- Sutco Transportation
- Kepo Transport
- Canadian Tire
- Ferraro Foods
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