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Community group pitches permanent youth cricket pitch at Centennial Fields
Summary
A Snoqualmie community group proposed pouring a permanent 120-by-12-foot cricket pitch at Centennial Fields and presented participation, fundraising and maintenance data to the Parks & Events Commission; commissioners asked for cost estimates, insurance details and scheduling plans before any budget request.
A representatives from a community foundation presented a proposal Nov. 12 to build a permanent youth cricket pitch at Centennial Fields in Snoqualmie.
Vikrant, a community advocate who helped organize local youth cricket programs, told the Parks & Events Commission the plan calls for “a 120 foot by 12 foot concrete slab” covered with a polyurethane-style playing surface and permanently installed matting to simulate a cricket wicket. He said the foundation has helped grow participation from zero to about 70 kids since October 2023 and raised roughly $25,700 for school-based programs.
The proposal emphasized coexistence with existing uses at Centennial Fields. Organizers said the pitch could be sandwiched between baseball outfields with buffer zones of 45–60 feet and that scheduling would prioritize weekend and summer hours when tournaments are typically held. “We need this pitch,” Vikrant said, describing pathways for girls and junior players to reach higher-level competition.
Commissioners questioned cost, maintenance and liability. Presenters cited example installation costs for comparable youth pitches from other districts ($15,000–$22,000 for school-level installations) and said maintenance is typically limited to partial replacement of surface mats over years rather than daily intensive care. On insurance, the group said youth coverage drives most program costs (they reported an annual youth-policy example near $6,500 versus roughly $1,800 for adult coverage) and that organizations often use third-party operational models or school partnerships that require waivers and separate agreements.
Staff and commissioners asked for a next step focused on figures and feasibility. Dylan Campbell, a parks operations staff member, told the commission the presentation was an informational update and asked the group to return with a more detailed cost estimate, schedule and proposed operational model the commission could forward to the council or include in a future budget request.
No formal action or funding was approved at the meeting. Commissioners expressed support for continuing to explore the idea but requested clarification on insurance, long-term maintenance costs and how a new pitch would affect parking and week‑day field use. The commission asked staff to circulate cost estimates and potential management models before any formal council request.
What’s next: Organizers and staff will refine cost and scheduling information and return with a budget picture and operational proposal that the commission can consider for a future recommendation to the City Council.
