Corner Brook baseball fans 'over the moon' with promise of new clubhouse

Upgrades to Corner Brook's premier baseball facility are finally in the works, as the funding hascome through to overhaulJubilee Field's aging clubhouse.

The Corner BrookBaseball Association lobbied for years for a new clubhouse, a vision realized Friday when $1.1million in federal and provincial funds was announced.

"The whole baseball community is over the moon," said Frank Humber, the director of field operations with the volunteer organization.

Together with previously promised money from the city, the final budget for the project comes in at $1.8 million. Humber said the building will include a new canteen,two dressing rooms, a space for umpires and officials, and a larger multi-purpose room.

Oh, and new public washrooms.

"The washrooms that are in that building currently ... are just beyond inadequate," said Humber, calling one of the washrooms "downright creepy."

'Everything needs an upgrade'

The current crumbling clubhouse, dating from the early 1950s, stands in stark contrast to the rest of Jubilee Field's immaculate facilities. The association ships in premium dirt, mows thegrass meticulously, and ensures all bats and balls are in top condition.

"That's where we've focused our resources, our limited resources, as a volunteer organization," said Humber.

• Corner Brook baseball striking out on overdue facility upgrades, says association

Trying to fix the clubhouse, where Humber says "everything needs an upgrade,"has always been beyond the association's means.

"It's old, and you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear," he told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning.

Humber hopes that $1.8 million will be enough to deliver on everything the association wants in the building, which is City of Corner Brook property.

"They invited our input right from the beginning," he said.

While Humber would like to see construction begin this fall, no timelines have yet been nailed down, although the association is set to meet with the city this week.

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