Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

INUVIK - The ball diamond on the east end of town is fenced off and is ready to be planted with grass for next season.

The ball diamond has been out of commission this season so it could be increased from the minor-ball size to full scale slo-pitch.

From left, Vince Sharpe, foreman Robert Rogers, Dan Lucas, Richard Firth, Mickey Gordon, Amos Teddy and Phillip Jacobson are putting up the fence around the baseball diamond near the Inuvik family centre. The work started earlier this month and should be done this week. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Contractor Vince Sharpe and his team of workers have been busy this month erecting the fence around the field.

Sharpe said the work started with grading and levelling off the field and expanding it to a bigger size.

"We had to get in there, tear it all up and level it so they could have a good level playing area," said Sharpe.

Sharpe said the field isn't ready yet for play.

"We still have to put down the infield dirt, the outfield and grass needs to be put down," he said.

He added that the fencing work being done should wrap up this week.

Sharpe said he has a crew of six that started their work last week.

"The crew is working eight-hour days out here," he said.

Sharpe was also responsible for getting the makeshift temporary field up and running, which is located close to the Aurora College campus.

Sharpe estimates the cost of the fencing to be in the neighbourhood of $24,000. Once the fencing of the field is done, Sharpe wants to lay down some black dirt and start planning for next season.

"Once the dirt is down, we can plant some grass and hopefully this will be ready for play next season," he said, adding it is important that people stay off the field once black topsoil is laid down for the grass.

"We have to keep people from ruining the field before the grass can grow," he said.

"The plan is to block off the entryway so no kids can go on the field until the grass is ready."

Sharpe and his team used a drill and cement mixer to install the piles for the fencing.

"We used a loader for the clearing, just whatever you see out here," he said.

He said the job is being paid for by the government, which needed to take down the ball diamond in Curtis Field for construction of the new school.

"This is going to replace that field," he said.