Council approved the purchase of approximately 32 acres of land in Blenheim for the future development of the South Kent Ball Diamond Complex and a Public Utilities Commission reservoir at its August 10, 2026 meeting.
Council approved the purchase of the land at 9267 Allison Line, owned by William Harry Knight and David William Knight, at a cost of $1,550,000, along with legal fees and closing costs of up to $15,000. Costs associated with the acquisition will be funded from the Hydro One Community Benefit Reserve and the Public Utilities Commission Water Facilities Lifecycle Reserve, with funding apportioned based on the acreage requirements of each project. The General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering Services and the Chief Financial Officer were authorized to execute agreements related to the purchase.
Council also approved administration proceeding with detailed design of the complex based on the concept design presented in the report, with the goal of developing a tender-ready project, funded from the $2 million previously approved by council to advance major capital projects within the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Administration was further directed to pursue grant funding and sponsorship or naming rights opportunities for the baseball facility.
On December 15, 2025, council adopted the 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which recommended development of a new ball diamond complex in South Kent to meet increasing demand for baseball and softball and reduce dependence on school board properties. Council had previously approved $1 million from the New Arena Build Reserve and $1 million from the Parks Lifecycle Reserve to fund a feasibility study, due diligence and early design work.
Administration initiated the feasibility study in late 2025 to assess land requirements and identify a suitable site for a four-diamond complex. Dillon Consulting was retained to complete the study, which screened six potential properties and compared them against municipal objectives, existing infrastructure and natural features before identifying a preferred location.
The 32-acre parcel, with frontage on Communications Road and Allison Line, was identified as the preferred site. It will accommodate a proposed 23.88-acre ball diamond complex while reserving land for future Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission infrastructure and potential recreational expansion. The site offers multiple access points, improved traffic circulation, enhanced emergency access and strong regional connectivity to Highway 401, and is generally flat, minimizing the need for extensive earthworks. It is also surrounded primarily by agricultural land, reducing potential conflicts related to noise, lighting and traffic.
The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission recently completed a 2025 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the water distribution system serving Blenheim, Ridgetown and Highgate, which recommended replacement of the existing Blenheim reservoir and booster station. The intersection of Communications Road and Allison Line was identified as the preferred location for the new reservoir and booster station, requiring approximately three acres.
The lands are designated agricultural in the Official Plan and zoned Agricultural under the municipality’s zoning bylaw, but a section of the bylaw permits public uses of the corporation in all zones, meaning amendments to Chatham-Kent’s planning documents are not required for the project to proceed. Planning Services participated in the site screening process and supports the recommendation.
Detailed design of the complex is estimated to cost $500,000, funded from the $2 million previously approved for the advancement of Parks and Recreation Master Plan priorities. The Class D capital cost estimate for the full baseball diamond complex is $16.7 million, including $2 million in contingency, based on 2026 construction prices.
Public consultation on the need for the complex took place through the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process between November 2024 and September 2025, while consultation on the water infrastructure component occurred through the Southeast Chatham-Kent Water Distribution System Municipal Environmental Assessment between October 2024 and March 2025. User groups, the Accessibility Committee and the general public will be further engaged during the detailed design phase.
