ISSUES
An overview of the current issues facing Victoria Park and its users.
Cricket activity in Victoria Park has grown significantly each season, with many players now traveling from outside Cambridge, sometimes from as far as Mississauga and Hamilton to use the pitch. While the Cambridge Cricket Club typically uses the field only once or twice a week, the majority of play now comes from unorganized groups who often arrive unaware of local expectations, by-laws, or ongoing issues. Because many of these players visit only once and may not return, most challenges stem from this unstructured use rather than from the local permit‑holding club. The concerns below outline the risks, impacts, and recurring problems associated with this increasing level of unmanaged cricket play in Victoria Park.
SAFETY
Risks to Public Safety
Ultimately, the safety of all park users is the primary concern. This safety is compromised whenever cricket play is underway, as cricket balls present serious risks to visitors, nearby vehicles, and anyone using adjacent areas of the park. Cricket balls routinely travel far beyond the boundaries of a regulation field; during nearly every instance of play, balls clear the trees surrounding the tennis courts and land among tennis players, many of whom are completely unaware of the danger. The repeated crack of the bat then becomes a warning signal during their matches.
Other park users including baseball and volleyball groups, frisbee players, picnickers, dog walkers, and families are exposed to the same hazards. Many are forced to stop their activities and leave the park, while others continue unaware of the risks around them.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
City
Players frequently practice hitting a cricket ball against the Victoria Park Pavillion, a historic building, causing damage to its cedar shake siding.
Private
Players have repeatedly damaged residential fencing while crossing private property to retrieve cricket balls, and additional incidents have included broken windows and vehicle damage.
AVAILABILITY
Lack of Park Availability
Cricket activity now dominates Victoria Park from early morning until dark on weekends and every weekday evening, with play expanding to begin as early as 6:30 a.m. on weekdays. This near‑constant occupation effectively shuts out other residents, leaving families, recreational groups, and casual visitors with little to no opportunity to use the park safely or comfortably. The result is a public space that is no longer meaningfully available to the broader community, despite being intended as a shared municipal resource for all.
Non‑Resident Usage
Large groups of non‑resident cricket players are travelling from as far as Mississauga and Hamilton and regularly occupying the park for extended periods, further reducing availability for local residents. These visiting players are unfamiliar with local agreements, bylaws, and safety expectations, compounding the strain on the park already overwhelmed by continuous play.
Limited Public Washroom Access
With multiple teams, often more than 40 players using the park for 12‑plus hours per day on weekends while washrooms remain closed from October to May, the sustained activity has created unsanitary conditions throughout the park. The absence of functioning facilities during such prolonged use has led to hygiene issues that directly affect other park users and the surrounding neighbourhood.
BY-LAW
Hardballs
Current by-laws, such as the restriction on hardball use without a permit, are frequently disregarded.
Traffic Violations
Increased traffic has resulted in parking violations near fire hydrants, fire routes, and restricted zones in front of houses. Speeding through the neighbourhood is often reported to VPTC.
Trespassing
Players are repeatedly observed crossing into fenced backyard properties. Often, makeshift wooden ladders are brought to the field for this purpose.
Littering
Residents and VPTC members often clean up trash, including cigarette butts and water bottles.
Activity During Wait Times
Teams waiting for their turn often practice in unsafe locations, such as near the road, parked cars, and the baseball diamond.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Responsibility and Liability
The majority of cricket activity occurring in Victoria Park is generated by non‑resident teams and unpermitted groups. These players operate outside the scope of a permitting system and therefore without any identifiable party responsible for damages, injuries, or bylaw violations. This unregulated activity leaves no accountable permit holder and shifts responsibility and potential liability onto the City. By allowing high‑risk, non‑permitted play to continue unchecked, the City assumes avoidable exposure and undermines the very purpose of its permitting system.