Gordon Edward (Eddy) Moore had a major effect on the sports community in Moose Jaw, perhaps none more so than on the growth of ladies’ fastball.
Moore was a founding member of the Moose Jaw Ladies Fastball Association and played a key role in developing the diamonds at Caribou Heights. He also volunteered much of his time working on the diamonds and supporting the organization as a coach.
The sports enthusiast also played and coached other sports in Moose Jaw during his life, which ended in 2022 at age 75.
The fastball association wanted to celebrate Moore’s dedication to the sport, so it sent city hall a letter last July inquiring about potentially renaming the two ball diamonds at Caribou Heights after its founder.
“He loved this sport and to watch all of us ladies and the fans fall in love with it too. Our organization couldn’t think of a better way to honour his love and dedication than with this renaming request,” association president Erin Tribier wrote.
The association suggested naming the diamonds Eddie Moore Park, Eddie More Athletic Park or Eddy Moore Softball Diamonds. It noted that the renaming would not affect the adjacent Elks Football Field.
The parks, recreation and facilities advisory committee considered the request and then submitted a recommendation to city council to rename the ball diamonds at Caribou Heights the Eddy Moore Park, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Council received that recommendation during its Jan. 23 meeting and unanimously approved the suggestion.
“I was one of those fastball players who played alongside Coach Moore,” said Coun. Dawn Luhning. “He lived for that diamond and for those girls and for senior ladies’ fastball. And I couldn’t think of a more appropriate name for Caribou heights.
“Being that I was involved in building those diamonds out there, it’s kind of almost come full circle for me.”
The advisory committee established a sub-committee in September to complete research and consultation on the request, a council report explained. The sub-committee met in November and agreed to support renaming the ball diamonds.
The City of Moose Jaw’s municipal naming policy states that naming rights requests must be made in writing to the director of parks and recreation, who then forwards the request to the advisory committee to review and provide a recommendation.
The policy lays out conditions for a venue to be renamed, including that there are no historical or legacy implications with the name change, that the park or venue not already be named after an individual and that there are no existing sponsorship naming rights agreements in place.
The advisory committee determined that Caribou Heights has no historical or legacy implications and is named based on is geographical location.
In 1989, city hall entered into a licence agreement with the Moose Jaw Senior Ladies’ Fastball Association for the operation and maintenance of the existing ball diamond at Caribou Heights, the report said.
In 1995, both parties constructed a second diamond, with the association assuming operations and maintenance of that venue.
In 2020, both parties agreed to an updated licence agreement for an extra five years that expires on Dec. 31, 2025. As part of the agreement, the association has the first right of refusal for another renewal.
There are no financial implications to the city with the renaming request because the fastball association has money to install signage with the new name, the report added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 13.
