British Columbia’s first fully accessible baseball diamond opened for play at Hillcrest Park in Vancouver on Saturday, April 22, 2017. The field was designed by Binnie and features an artificial turf surface that allows wheelchairs to move around with ease. The field is level and has no raised obstacles – such as mounds or bases – so that players with physical challenges can use it. It is the first of its kind in British Columbia, Canada.

The project was a partnership between the league Variety Children’s Charity, the Jays Care Foundation, and the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation.

Established in 1992 as a division of Baseball BC, Challenger Baseball is a league designed for players with disabilities to enjoy baseball with the help of an able-bodied “Buddie”. This can involve the Buddies pushing wheelchairs around the diamond, helping players hold the bat, and protecting players from flying balls.

See the field opening as featured on CTV local news.