Villeray Community Mobilizes Against Baseball Field Removal
Residents in Montreal's Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough are mounting opposition against a municipal project that would eliminate a baseball field in Le Prévost Park. The field, scheduled for destruction in 2028 as part of a "library-garden" themed development, has become a focal point for community concern, particularly among families with daughters participating in local baseball programs.
Growing Popularity of Girls' Baseball Threatened
According to local baseball organizations, the proposed removal comes at a particularly inopportune time. Maxime Brossard, president of the Association de baseball amateur Jarry, reports that registrations have surged by 35 percent since 2021, with girls comprising one-third of their 300 players. "Our biggest concern is that we will need to cut our membership at a certain point," Brossard explained. "Because we're aiming for growth that probably can't be maintained if the field is dismantled."
The association notes that the borough has already lost 20 baseball fields since 2000, forcing teams to share limited space across just seven remaining fields. This season, the club resorted to a lottery system to determine which teams could practice twice weekly, highlighting the severe capacity constraints.
Community Petition Gathers Momentum
Valérie Hébert, whose daughters play for the local Jackies team, has collected nearly 1,000 signatures through a petition opposing the project. "It's as if they're telling them they're not important and their needs aren't taken into account," Hébert stated regarding the message she believes the decision sends to young athletes.
Hébert attended a January 26 city council meeting where the contract was awarded to the architectural firm behind the project. While not opposing the new library—named after Quebec author Caroline Dawson—she questions why the baseball field cannot be incorporated into the redesigned space.
Municipal Response and Alternative Considerations
Borough officials maintain that the project addresses growing needs and is too advanced for significant modifications. A spokesperson pointed to two other baseball fields remaining accessible in the neighborhood, including one in nearby De Normanville Park that may undergo renovations.
"Maximizing all available public spaces in the borough is essential and must be combined with various initiatives to meet all the needs of the population," the borough stated in response to concerns.
However, residents challenge this assessment. Hébert argues that elected officials may not fully comprehend the sport's significance for neighborhood youth. "For once, these girls have found a sport in which they're thriving and using the city's sports facilities for," she emphasized. "Three times a week, they have a sense of belonging—they're not on their phones, they're developing their self-esteem, they're shouting, they're chanting."
Political Engagement and Future Prospects
Feeling that local options have been exhausted, Hébert has appealed to Montreal's new Ensemble Montréal administration. Christine Black, Montreal North borough mayor and now responsible for sports and recreation on the city's executive committee, acknowledged residents' concerns in a statement to media.
"I assured them we would examine our options and remain in contact with them moving forward," Black stated after meeting with project opponents.
The conflict highlights broader tensions between urban development priorities and community sports infrastructure. As city documents describe the redesigned park focusing on "urban agriculture, art and poetry," baseball advocates argue that athletic spaces provide equally valuable community benefits, particularly for youth development and gender equity in sports participation.
