Ituna receives grant from Jays Care Foundation for ballpark

A recreation complex in Ituna was one of two community groups in Saskatchewan to receive infrastructure money from the Jays Care Foundation’s Field of Dreams grant.

Swift Current Minor Baseball was the other group from the province to receive a grant, another one of 15 in the country that will share $1.3 million.

According to David Renkas from the Ituna and District Regional Park, the organization will receive just under $50,000 to upgrade its main diamond.

“Our backstops are starting to weather … through some holes in the fences. We currently do not have an outfield home-run fence and have a grass infield right now which will get turned to shale,” Renkas said.

“A lot of people will benefit. It’s a combination of our minor ball, our senior ball (and) our slo-pitch league. The community’s going to benefit because it will give us the opportunity to host some tournaments, possibly some provincial tournaments which generate a lot of revenue for both the park and the community.”

Renkas called it a great start as the group looks to revitalize the rest of the park, which also includes swimming pools, campsites and a golf course.

Recipients of the grant were announced during the broadcast before the Toronto Blue Jays’ game on Sunday. Renkas was watching with a group of minor baseball players.

“There was a lot of cheering from the kids, a lot of excitement from the community members,” he said. “Our ball diamonds have been beat up a little bit the last while and deteriorated a bit so we’re excited to be able to have some decent facilities going forward.”