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Nanaimo is getting sporty again as it begins to reopen ice rinks and switches on a $1.1-million LED field lighting system at Serauxmen Stadium.

City council approved the opening strategy for ice rinks this week, starting with one sheet of ice at the Nanaimo Ice Centre on July 27. If there’s enough demand, a second sheet will open at that location on Sept. 1.

Another sheet of ice is scheduled to open at the Cliff McNabb Arena on Aug. 3, provided there’s enough interest. A sheet of ice could also open at the Frank Crane Arena, if demand calls for it.

Rinks will operate under safety protocols aimed at preventing the transmission of COVID-19. For example, hockey players will have to arrive at the arena in their gear, and a maximum of 16 skaters will be allowed on the ice at one time. Competitive play will not be allowed.

Plans to reopen pools and community centres at Beban Park, Bowen Park and Oliver Woods Recreation Centre will be presented to council soon.

Outdoor amenities, such as parks, trails, sports fields and playgrounds have already opened in Nanaimo and guidelines are posted at each facility.

Lynn Wark, Nanaimo’s director for recreation and culture services, said the process for reopening the areans was very thorough. “It will look different in many ways than it was before the pandemic, but the safety and health of the public and staff is our top priority.”

Meanwhile, the Serauxmen Stadium on Third Street now has eight new LED lighting poles standing 21 metres to 24 metres tall and a new scoreboard.

The lights are are designed to provide specific lighting levels for “optimal playability,” said a statement from the city. “These lights will greatly improve opportunities for baseball teams in Nanaimo by lengthening their seasons and giving players more hours of play.”

The baseball stadium will also be home to Nanaimo’s new West Coast League team, which will begin play in the spring/summer circuit next June. The expansion WCL franchise is set to unveil its official name and logo Wednesday night.

Better lighting has long been a wish of local baseball fans.

Lorne Goodall, president of the Serauxmen Stadium Amateur Baseball Association, said, the new lights will allow the field to be used more, “helping the sport of baseball to further grow and flourish in this area.”

The stadium has deep roots in the community.

In 1972, the Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association signed an agreement with the school district to build a baseball field on what was an old mine site behind Nanaimo District Secondary School. That mining site was transformed into the Serauxmen Stadium, which opened July 31, 1976.

The opening ceremony was attended by retired New York Yankees player Mickey Mantle and retired Boston Red Sox player Jim Piersall. Hockey players Johnny Bucyk (Boston Bruins) and Chris Oddleifson (Vancouver Canucks), and football player George Reed (Saskatchewan Roughriders). National Hockey League referee Lloyd Gilmour also on hand.

Nanaimo took over the site three years ago. The city is working with the amateur baseball association to put together an overall improvement plan for the stadium.

cjwilson@timescolonist.com