The City of Armadale has committed to spending $27,000 to develop a new cricket pitch at Creyk Park.
At its August 14 meeting council voted unanimously in support of the proposal to develop the new wicket.
City funding will be provided pending the approval of an application for a $13,500 Department of Sport and Recreation Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund Small Grant, which will take the total development cost up to about $40,000.
The city’s 2016 master plan for Creyk Park included the development of a cricket pitch to service the three senior and two junior cricket clubs in the area.
More than 900 people participated in Armadale’s 2016-17 cricket season, which meant it was Armadale’s most popular community sport last summer.
The city said on any given Saturday there were only 12 cricket pitches available for senior games but with 25 senior teams needing pitches and the potential for women’s teams in the future it acknowledged more playing space was needed.
In the past some teams have had to hire reserves outside of Armadale due to a lack of grounds to accommodate them, which the city said was not good enough.
Mayor Henry Zelones said they had worked with local clubs to determine the best site.
“We are hopeful that the CSRFF grant application will be successful in November,” he said.
Kelmscott Cricket Club president Ray Witt said the local cricket community would welcome an extra pitch because since the creation of the Champion Lakes Cricket Club in 2014, which uses parks in Armadale, there had been a shortage of space.
“If we get another one it would be handy,” he said.
Mr Witt said the Kelmscott Cricket Club was still looking for players for its upcoming 2017-18 summer season.
Anybody interested can call him on 0419 959 289.
