A local baseball park is scrambling to get it’s lights back on after thieves took off with over 10 thousand meters of copper wiring. Henning Park in Caledonia is privatized meaning there’s no county money for the $40 000 repairs.

At some point over the winter months, thieves hit every light, all 16 of them stripping the wire. They cut and dragged all the wire out of the ground from pole to pole on both diamonds. It’s estimated that 10 kilometres worth of copper wire was stolen running under the fields and to an electrical building nearby.

John Uildersma, the President of the Caledonia minor hardball association says they are out of pocket $40 000.

“We have liability insurance in the park, there is some fire and theft but the lights are not insured, there’s no insurance money coming in.”

Henning park is privately owned. 60 teams come to use the field and the leagues pay for all the upkeep. NSA Canada, dubbed the fastest growing slo-pitch organization in the country say they will be helping with the costs. Kevin Rupert, an electrician is also volunteering his time to get the lights back on for the first baseball tournament of the season next month and this time copper won’t be going back in the ground.

“The new wire is aluminium. It’s not worth anything at the scrap yards.”

Haldimand County OPP are investigating but no arrests have been made. If you would like to help a Go Fund Me page has been set up for the repairs.