Kids’ safety at risk from flying baseballs at Mississauga park, residents fear

Dozens of west Mississauga residents are pushing the city to either move a neighbourhood baseball diamond or relocate a nearby playground before a child gets seriously hurt.

A petition signed by more than five dozen residents was presented on Wednesday to Mississauga city council. The document, containing 67 signatures, calls on city officials to address what residents view as a serious accident waiting to happen at Bell Harbour Park.

Residents fear a softball/baseball diamond is situated too close to a children’s playground at the park, which is located south of Britannia Road West between Erin Mills Parkway and Glen Erin Drive.

Aerial photo of Bell Harbour Park shows the proximity of the playground to the softball/baseball diamond (bottom right). (Photo: City of Mississauga)

“The baseball diamond and children’s playground are situated in close proximity. Under windy conditions, baseballs frequently fly into the playground area,” the petition, created by resident Libo Yu, states. “If a young child were to be struck by a baseball, it would be disastrous for both the child’s family and the community. This presents a significant safety risk to the children, parents and pedestrians at the playground. Immediate actions are required to ensure playground safety.”

The petition urges the city to either “close the baseball diamond at Bell Harbour Park or relocate the playground to a safe area.”

City staff is expected to consider the concerns outlined in the petition.

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(YouTube video: Libo Yu)