Inscribed in the city’s plans for several years and promised on three occasions by the former Maher administration, the new municipal baseball stadium would finally become a reality. If Avenir Saint-Jérôme – Team Marc Bourcier is brought to power, next Sunday, November 7, at the town hall of Saint-Jérôme.
A PPP is back in fashion
As initially foreseen in the project, the new stadium would be built at the old dry dump on rue Filion, which would be transformed into a leisure park. Multifunctional trails (cross-country skiing, walking, mountain biking) would be set up there, among other things, linked to those of Lac Jérôme.
The new stadium, which will have a synthetic turf surface, will require an investment of $ 3.5 million (including the Turf, he said). But Mr. Bourcier does not rule out the possibility of a public-private partnership (PPP) for its realization. “This is an avenue that we will explore, as will the possible participation of the other two levels of government. Some have raised the flag for a PPP. I pretend to go forward with the truth. The whole project is interrelated and we give ourselves a year to start this, an elected coup. My timeline? As soon as possible. But it is certain that it will cost $ 1.5 million in seeds and encapsulation, given the old nature of the land and the measures to be followed to satisfy the Ministry of the Environment ”, indicated Marc Bourcier in addition to the conference.
Marble in the right place
The Bourcier candidate intends to limit the capacity of the stadium to 600 seats, which could present games of junior and senior caliber. A 90-40-90 seating configuration would form the U behind the plate, with an official grandstand, control room and press room. A circulation area near the field, as well as a control terrace and a marquee (mezzanine) would complete the portrait in the heights of the rear screen.
“We want to furnish this park at the sporting level. In addition to the 600 places, a mini-field will be located behind (the big one). According to the plans sketched out in 2015 and carried out with the Fondeurs du Nord, the marble will be installed towards the southwest side of the land (unlike Melançon and Schulz where it is to the southeast), to prevent the sun from blinding it. batter, catcher and umpire. We used the Julien-Morin Stadium in Coaticook as a working model. The stadium will offer direct access to the players, between the changing rooms and the pitch. The shelters will be dug. ”
“On another note, just like in Coaticook, a half-roof will protect part of the crowd from sunburn and bad weather. Blocks of 200 spectators will be able to sit towards the 1st and 3rd goals. ”
Starting tertres
While the addition of an indoor waxing room for cross-country ski competitions will be very helpful, the idea of setting up tee boxes at the outfield makes observers frown.
“I am comfortable placing cross-country starts on the outfield. There will be mounds of snow and it will not damage the Turf. Their positioning will be reassessed during construction. In addition, 3 km of ski slopes will be added. There will be departures in the evening, under ecological lighting. ”
Conversion to parking
As for the current stadium in Parc Melançon, Marc Bourcier intends to transform it into an ecological parking lot, in order to relieve congestion in particular on Du Domaine, Parent, Du Palais, O’Shea, Bran, Léonard, Chapleau and Du Plateau streets.
“Parking in Districts 4 and 6 has become problematic, even dangerous, especially around Dubois and Marchand schools. (…). But people rest assured, the small Kinsmen park (minor baseball) will not be affected. Trees, basketball court and grass will remain. It is only the Melançon ball field that will be transformed ”, specified the candidate alderman of district 6, Jean Junior Desormeaux.
The surface of a possible ecological parking would be “Designed in honeycomb paving, through which vegetation would grow. This would reduce heat islands, while the water will feed the water table. Trees will also be planted. This parking would be paid for, but at a reduced rate, for students ”, he continued.
Canadian rink
Finally, the Bourcier candidate wants to make a gesture to attract to Saint-Jérôme the construction of a refrigerated outdoor skating rink.
“I want to pass a resolution to the future council, which I will take myself to Andrew Molson (Geoff’s brother), to signify our intention to build this equipment, in the old romper of Melançon Park. We will find good listening, because they like to install them in disadvantaged neighborhoods ”, concluded Marc Bourcier.
