As part of the redevelopment process for the Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre Redevelopment, public information sessions were held in 2017 and 2018. Input was sought on the concept design for the new Lawn Bowling site at Mickey McDougall.
Feedback received on the concept design for the Mickey McDougall site was incorporated into the final Lawn Bowling design. This included aspects such a site grading, preferred location for the lawn bowling greens and clubhouse, as well as inclusion of a new public green space at the corner of St. Andrews and 23rd Street. Following the conceptual design, a more detailed design of the facility was undertaken in 2018 and 2019.
In 2020, construction began with laying the greens and completing site upgrades.
The final lawn bowling surface, also known as the greens, was installed in July 2021, allowing the club to be operational by late summer 2021. The final layer or “greens carpet” was laid down in wide strips that were then sewn together by an industrial sewing machine and specially trained crew. The greens carpet and sewing machine were shipped from Great Britain and travelled through the Panama Canal! The greens are installed to specifications that comply with World Bowl’s performance standards, allowing the club to host international competitions in the future.
Field lighting and site furnishings were also installed, and the next phase of the project will be constructing the clubhouse.
