A group fighting to save a century-old softball diamond in the Plateau's Jeanne-Mance Park is taking their fight to the courts.
Last Friday, the group filed a legal claim contesting a decision by the city of Montreal to close the beloved ballfield.
In February of this year, Plateau Mont Royal borough mayor Luc Ferrandez assured the group the softball diamond would reopen in late May. Instead, the city went back on that promise, saying the softball field was too dangerous, because it lacked proper fencing, and the backstop was too short.
The city cited a ballistics report after one woman suffered an injury there.
Marisa Berry Mendez, part of the group looking to save the field, says the city's excuse for closing the field hasn't exactly been consistent.
"Now they say there's lots of different park users, it's the busiest park in Montreal, we need to make sure we're meeting the needs of all users," she says, "So, yeah, it just keeps changing."
The group has staged several rallies, questioned politicians at council meetings, and launched a petition to restore the field. In response, the city has promised that consultations on Jeanne-Mance Park would take place in the fall.
Berry Mendez says she hopes both sides will resolve their issues without having to go to court.
"We would prefer a political solution. We would prefer also that the city realizes that it's made a mistake," she says.