Plans are in the works to develop a dedicated cricket field in the city of Saint John.

Council recently approved a cricket field as one of five new recreation initiatives for 2023.

Sumit Gour with the Saint John Cricket Club said it is a much-needed addition to the city.

“As immigration is growing, we have a lot of cricket players moving into the city, so having a dedicated cricket field will help us improve this need,” Gour said in a recent phone interview.

Cricket has been a part of Saint John for over 100 years with the first event dating back to 1888.

The sport lost its popularity as time progressed, said Gour, but began reinventing itself in the 1990s.

Currently, there are more than 100 registered players in Saint John and more than 400 across the province. The sport has even expanded to children and youth programs at community centres and schools.

New Brunswick currently has three established cricket fields: one in Moncton and two in Fredericton.

The Saint John Cricket Club currently plays at the Exhibition Park grounds, but Gour said that site presents some challenges.

“It is not a proper-sized cricket ground and it doesn’t drain really well. If it rains, we are not able to use the field for a few weeks to sometimes months,” he said.

“Last season, most of our season was washed out because there was some water-logging happening in the field.”

Gour said cricket balls are made up of leather, which prevents them from being able to play if the field is wet.

The club is currently working with the City of Saint John to select a location for a cricket field.

Council recently approved a staff recommendation to fund 50 per cent of the construction costs, which are estimated to be around $238,000.

The Saint John Cricket Club and Cricket New Brunswick have offered to partner with the city to maintain the field.

Gour said they hope to be playing on the new field — wherever it may be — within the next 18 to 24 months.