Council Approves Installation of Cricket Field
Another first for the Town of Amherstburg!
Council voted in support of a proposal to have installed, at no expense to Amherstburg taxpayers, a cricket field at Anderdon Park. This will be the first cricket field in all of Essex County and one of only a few in southwestern Ontario.
The cost to install the field will be fully funded by PaxPitch Sports, Windsor’s first-ever indoor cricket training facility. PaxPitch runs the Border City Cricket League in Windsor-Essex and Chatham. More than 20 teams with more than 400 players are ready to play outdoors in Amherstburg this season.
The owner of PaxPitch Sports delegated before Council and said he is keen to work with the Town to offer youth programs and work with local businesses to promote the sport and economic development. He expressed a desire to install a second field at Pat Thrasher Park in the future, but that issue was not discussed by Council Monday night and no formal proposal has come to Council, let alone been approved.
Cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world and will be an event in the 2028 Olympic Games.
Who knows? A young Amherstburg resident might now get to experience a sport they would have never encountered otherwise and grow up to be the next Sir Donald Bradman!
Read more about the proposal here!
Council to Amend Animal Control/Keeping of Animals By-Law
Council heard from cat welfare advocates who expressed concerns our by-law did not allow for the feeding of cats being tended by caregivers as part of a Trap, Neuter and Return program.
Council unanimously agreed to have the by-law rewritten so that it clearly stated that registered caregivers could feed cats as part of TNR programs. It will come back for final approval at a later date.
TNR programs and the people who run them have done a great service in Amherstburg and it’s important the Town allow them to continue doing their good works while also ensuring there is a mechanism in place to deal with people who cause issues by not feeding feral cats responsibly and in accordance with best practices.
There was also some discussion about the Town’s voucher program and whether or not the value of vouchers needed to be increased to help cover spay and neutering costs. Council is likely to address the issue during Budget deliberations.
Council Approves Final Tax Rating By-Law
Council approved the Final Tax Rating by-law. The Town’s total levy for 2025, including two capital levies of $732,478 each, is $33,746,556.
Council Approves Medical Tiered Response Agreement
Council approved a revised Medical Tiered Response agreement with Essex-Windsor EMS. Read the report!
Council Greenlights WEBC Phase 3 Trails
I’m happy to report my Notice of Motion to accelerate construction of the Phase 3 Mountain Bike trails at the Libro Centre passed unanimously.
Volunteers with the Windsor Essex Bike Community have raised about $55,000 for the construction of these trails and, all told, have raised about $155,000 for the network of trails at the Libro.
The Phase 3 addition will add another 2.5 km of trail for a total of 8.5 km of trails.
This is a fantastic amenity for Amherstburg residents, especially our youth, and I’m excited to see the new trail take shape!
Duffy’s Project Moving Forward
I know the fence is not coming down as fast as any of us would like, but the expansion of King’s Navy Yard Park onto the former Duffy’s site is moving forward.
The Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities told Council that a tender for the next phase of the project could be issued by the end of the week and by next week at the latest. Remaining works to be completed include site servicing, drainage, landscaping, lighting and the installation of a walkway.
The Town is still awaiting final provincial approval to take down the fence and restore public access to this vibrant waterfront site.
Feds Award Tender to Remove Old Boblo Dock
The federal government owns the dilapidated structure and the Town has long been pressing for its demolition.
The contract was awarded on May 9 and it expires in 22 months, on March 31, 2027.
Kehoe Marine is based in Lansdowne Ontario and submitted the lowest bid.
It’s been a long time coming but I’m happy the federal government is having this dock demolished as it is both a blight and a hazard for area boaters.
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