Agenda Item # Page # 1

CHAIR AND MEMBERS, COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTE /To MEETING ON JANUARY26,2009 JEFF FIELDING, FROM: CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

LABATT PARK MEMORABILIA PERMANENT DISPLAY AT LABATT MEMORIAL PARI I) SUBJECT: I I' I

RECOMMENDATION

That, on the recommendation of the Chief Administrative Officer, the following actio1

(a) Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to take the necessary steps to in following: (i) Phase One - Establish a temporary display of Labatt Park Memorabili ithin City Hall Front Lobbv; (ii) Phase Two-- Move the display from City Hall to or a suitable location in the downtown London; it being noted that there is no new source of funding required to implement Phases One and Two subject to approval of the 2009 Judget, as up to $20,000 for general improvements has been included in the 2009 'arks and Recreation Budget for this project; and

(b) The Labatt Park Memorabilia Team BE REQUESTED to report back to the Conmunity and Protective Services Committee in the Fall of 2009 on the success of these initiatives' and

(c) Civic Administration PARTNER with the Labatt Park Memorabilia Team on the development of a strategy and business plan for establishing a permanent display of memorabilia at Labatt Park (Phase iii) which will include a seasonal and non-season component for consideration as part of the 2010 Budget deliberations.

PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER

Clause 5 of the 26'h Report, Planning Committee, November 2007. Clause 9 of the 10" report, Planning Committee, April 2008. Clause 5 of the 1Ith Report, Planning Committee, April 2008 I

BACKGROUND I' I __I[ OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this initiative is to celebrate Labatt Park - its teams, its people its heritage, and to highlight its contribution to the City of London, the region, the countr) and the world. We need to open its gates to Londoners and visitors of all ages while continuing to provide within a premier facility.

THE GOAL Is to establish a permanent showcase of memorabilia, including active and passive areas, by converting existing space and adapting the area beneath the existing centre grandstard - celebrating the heritage and tradition of Labatt Park. It is anticipated that the display nil1 be open to the public and could become part of the pathway system linking downtown wit 1 the Forks of the Thames and the City-wide Thames Valley Parkway, see map attached. Agenda Item # Page # 2

At its meeting held April 28th2008, Council (attached) resolved "that funds BE COA in the 2009 Budget for the conversion and adoption of the space beneath the Gram Labatt Park to accommodate interpretive displays, including those representin lnfercounfy Baseball League for its Baseball Hall of Fame". It is the intention team to incorporate the Intercounty Baseball League memorabilia with the LE Memorabilia display.

PROPOSED TIMELINE : + January 26, 2009: Report to Community and Protective Services Committee + February 2,2009: Report to Council Meeting + FebruarylMarch, 2009: A media strategy will be developed to obtain Labatt Par1 memorabilia. The memorabilia will be collected, catalogued and stored in a tern secure location. + April, 2009: One month prior to opening day at Labatt Park a temporary display unveiled at City Hall. + May, 2009 Opening Day: Celebrate London Majors as the 2008 League Champions and the Introduction of this initiative including select display memorabilia items, identify existing Interim location at City Hall and confirmatiot f future interim location at Museum London, or other suitable downtown location such a: ie . + June, 2009: The display will be moved from City Hall to the interim location. + 2010: The final phase will be establishing a permanent display of memorabilia at Park.

HISTORY OF LABATT PARK: + 7877- W. J. Reid purchased a swampy river flat in , drained and I baseball diamond and grandstand, and named it " Park. London's e professional baseball tearn, the Tecumsehs, were founding members of the Int League + 1877 -The Tecumseh's win the Championship. + 7920 - of the plays at Tecumseh Park in front of 3,000 + 7927 - The Tecumseh's win the - Baseball League Cha + 7936 - The Labatt family purchased the park and donated it to the City of Lon in the name change to "Labatt Park". + 7937 - The existing white-frame, cottage-style team clubhouse is built and is clubhouses of its type, remaining in the region. Its exterior remains largely u Originally, both the teams and the umpires used it as a changeroom. Over famous sports personalities have changed there, including Connie Mack, 0 and George "Mooney" Gibson, who was a member of the Pirates' 1909 Wo winning team. + 7942t - Several women's baseball, and teams play at the p London Supremes played in the Michigan-Ontario Women's Fastball Leag 1950s. + 7943 and 7944 - London's Army Team win the Canadian Sandlot title. + 1954 - pitches the last three innings of an exhibition game. + 7984-7985 - Fergie Jenkins (former major league) pitches for London Majors. the and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame & Museu Cooperstown, New York and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Muse + 7989-7993 -The Class AA London Tigers, an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers 1989 to 1993 and won the Eastern League championship in 1990. + 7990 - Labatt Park is the winner of the "Beam Clay Baseball Diamond of as the best natural grass ballpark in North America. + 7994- Labatt Park was designated as an historic site. + 2007- Labatt Park is featured in the month of October 2007 Times of G calendar. + 2008-As a result of City Council's resolution dated November 5, 2007,a the Guinness Book of World Records requesting that their records be cor fact that Labatt Park in London, Ontario, Canada is the oldest ball park in the world. (5/26/PC) (AS AMENDED). In September, 2008 Labatt Park Massachusett's Fuller Field in the 2009 Guinness Book of World Record Agenda Item # Page # 3

"World's Oldest Baseball Field." In October, 2008, Guinness's online record for tl Vorld's Oldest Baseball Field was switched back to Fuller Field in Clinton, Massachuset Attached is a copy of the Guinness World Records Certificate. The ongoing Guinness v\ record title controversy continues to provide valuable media exposure for Labatt Park. + 2008 - London Majors win the Intercounty League Championship. The Majors : he longest-serving tenant of Labatt Park.

LABATT PARK MEMORABILIA TEAM: In order to bring this showcase of memorabilia together a team has been establishe

Team LeadlChair: Mr. Bruce Huff, who has a long and distinguished association \n iaseball. Mr. Huff currently volunteers in many capacities including acting as the Chair of London Sports Hall of Fame, Secretary-manager London Oldtimers Sports Association, Pla nanager London 70s hockey team, Player-owner London Elder Dogs elite 70s softbal am, and represents the hall of fame and Oldtimers on the London Legacy committee.

Team Co-Leads/Co-Chair: Mr. Stephen Harding and Mr. Barry Wells

Other team memberslresources: Anna Gladysz, Marketing Manager, London Majors, Michelle Hamilton, History Department, University of Western Ontario, Brian Meehan Executive Director, Museum London: Scott Stafford, Division Manager, Parks and Recreation; Mark Henderson, Director of Business Liaison; Marian Hughes, EA to the CAOs office; Christina Nurse, London Public Library, Marketing Manager John Winston, General Manager, Tourism London; Bill Campbell, Division Manager, EESD, Fleet and Facilities; Mike Bushby, Division Manager, EESD; Andrew Macpherson, and Don Menard, Planning Department(res0urce)

BUDGET: Included in the 2009 Park and Recreation budget, is an amount allocated to or parks upgrades, which if approved, an amount up to $20,000 can be allocated to Phase ( and Two of this project. A business plan and strategy for establishing a permanent display of norabilia which will include a seasonal and non-season component will be included for con ration as part of the 2010 Budget deliberations.

CONCLUSION: Labatt Park is an integral part of the fabric of the City of London. It is our intention nake this historic facility inviting to all Londoners and baseball fans alike - locally, regionally : hopefully worldwide. The Park and display would become part of the pathway system linking owntown with the Forks of the Thames and the City-wide Thames Valley Parkway. The prop al will be accessible to all and will comply with FADDS requirements. -~ - .- PREPARED BY: PREPARED BY: r------

ager, Parks and Recreation,

April 29, 2008

Chair and Members London Advisory Committee on Heritage

I hereby certify that the Municipal Council, at its session held on April 28, 2008 resolved:

5. That clause 3, as amended, of the 5th Report of the London Advisory Committ In Heritage (LACH) BE REFERRED back to the LACH to further review and refine its proposal, in consu on with the London Heritage Council, relating to the adaptation of the space beneath the Grandstand at )att Park to accommodate interpretive displays; it being noted that clause 3 was amended to read as f WS:

"That funds BE CONSIDERED in the 2009 Budget for the conversion and adaptation of the I ce beneath the Grandstand at Labatt Park to accommodate interpretive displays, including those rei ;enting the Intercounty Baseball League for its Baseball Hall of Fame (as per a Municipal Council resolu adopted at its meeting held on January 22, 2007); it being noted that the London Advisory Committc In Heritage (LACH) received a communication dated November 15,2006 from J. Rooney, Commission Intercounty Baseball League and a communication dated March 18,2008 from B. Salter, Chair, and B. t Secretary- Manager, London Oldtimers Sports Association, and heard verbal presentationsfromS. Harc , and B. Huff, Secretary-Manager, London Oldtimers Sports Association, with Ject to this matter." (511 1/PC)

Kevin Bain City Clerk Ihw

cc: London Heritage Council, c/o 421 Ridout Street North, London ON N6A 5H4 G. Barrett, Manager, Land Use Planning Policy D. Menard, Heritage Planner

The Corporation of the City of London Office: 519-661-2500 ext. 0969 Fax: 519-661-4892 www. london.ca