An eagle circled lazily above Port Moody’s Inlet Field on Thursday as government and First Nations representatives wearing fluorescent safety vests congratulated themselves on the progress of the old gravel park’s transformation into a year-round turf facility for soccer, softball, baseball and other sports.
“That’s a good sign,” said Mayor Meghan Lahti.
The president of the Port Moody Soccer Club (PMSC) sure hopes so.
Matthew Campbell said while it’s “fantastic” to see work underway to construct FIFA-regulation pitch that can be divided into three smaller fields for younger players, with two diamonds for baseball and softball at opposite corners, construction of a new clubhouse is “the key that holds it all together.”
So far, Lahti said, the budget isn’t yet available for such a structure. But, she added, the city is working on it, with $6.7 million at its disposal from the province’s Growing Communities Fund as well as money developers have to contribute for community amenities.
Lahti said the city expects to enter a preliminary design phase for the clubhouse “in the next few months,” but she doesn’t want the new facility to be a cinderblock bunker like the old one that was torn down as part of the Inlet Field refurbishment.
A new clubhouse should be a “showcase” for the the city, Lahti said, possibly with seating integrated into its design, as well as meeting rooms, a concession, washroom, changing and storage facilities.
“We want to make it something the community can be proud of.”
Campbell said without a clubhouse, PMSC is currently storing its gear at Kyle Community Centre and in sheds and repurposed dressing rooms near existing pitches at the city’s recreation centre and up at Heritage Woods.
He said aside from the practical considerations, a new clubhouse would also be a community hub, where different user groups can gather for meetings or events. It would be a good amenity to have in place if the city hopes to become a training centre for one of the international teams that will be in Vancouver for the 2026 World Cup to be played across North America and Mexico as well.
“The visibility of it is huge,” Campbell said.
The redevelopment of Inlet Field is budgeted to cost about $6.2 million. Port Moody is pitching in $1.7 million, the provincial government is contributing $4.3 million and the federal government is adding another $206,415.
It’s expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The project also includes lighting, two playgrounds, batting cages, parking facilities and two EV charging stations along with improved connections to Shoreline Trail and the multi-use path along Murray Street. As well, 350 new trees will be planted to compensate for the loss of several trees to accommodate construction.
That’s good news for the eagle, which disappeared beyond the canopy of the adjacent forest just as the speeches got started.
