Player wants to preserve bleachers, park charm
When Zak Hayward heard that the bleachers at Gowan Park were slated for replacement, he decided he had to make an effort to save them.
Baseball is in his blood, he says. Hayward has spent summers at Gowan Park since he was a baby. He has fond memories of watching his father Chris Hayward playing ball there. He remembers gathering under the trees, playing in the park and getting a Freezie from the concession stand, which was always open.
When it was time for Hayward to start playing T-ball he registered in New Lowell because Creemore didn’t have a minor baseball program at the time. He started with the North Dufferin Baseball League (NDBL), as a bat boy when he was 10 years old and was called up to play at 15. Hayward has played elite baseball, travelling to tournaments in the United States, was a member of the Creemore Padres when they won the NDBL 2024 Junior Championship. He now plays in the senior division for the New Lowell Knights.
He has spent many happy summers watching baseball from those very bleachers.
Hayward said the bleachers, made of cinder block with wooden slats for seating, have character and give the ballpark a small town feel.
He is hoping there is a way to repair them and bring them up to standards while maintaining their charm.
In the 2025 municipal budget, $10,000 was set aside for new bleachers. Hayward is confident that the old bleachers can be upgraded within budget.
Clearview Township’s Director of Parks and Recreation Terry Vachon said the plan is to increase seating at Gowan Park using lower aluminum bleachers that meet modern standards for safety and accessibility, similar to
those that have already been installed at parks in Stayner and Nottawa.
Vachon said the opposition to the new bleachers did take him by surprise but he is willing to explore options to renovate the bleachers and present them to council for consideration.
The “Keep the Creemore bleachers” petition is online at change.org. Hayward plans to present the petition to council at an upcoming meeting. As of presstime, it had almost 500 signatures.
The petition reads, “For generations, these bleachers have been more than just a place to sit—they are a piece of Creemore’s identity. Built decades ago, they’ve witnessed countless summer evenings of little league games, community tournaments, and spontaneous neighborhood gatherings. Families have sat side-by- side, sharing stories and cheering for their teams from those very benches. They’re worn smooth not just by time, but by memory.
“While we recognize the importance of safety and accessibility in our public spaces, we believe there is immense cultural and historical value in maintaining these bleachers as part of the park’s charm and character. They represent continuity in a town that values its roots, where history isn’t something we visit—it’s something we live in every day.
“The Creemore Ball Park is a rare gem, one of the few remaining small- town diamonds that still feel like a step back in time. The old bleachers contribute to that feeling. They tell a story, not just of baseball, but of community spirit, tradition, and the passage of time.”
It is not known exactly when the bleachers currently at the park were built but a historical plaque at the entranceway to the park, says it has been a popular gather place since the 1870s. “In 1914, the Orange Young Britons raised money and provided labour to transform the area into a popular park – most notable was the construction of a first rate baseball diamond with a backstop and bleachers for fans to root for the home team. The park was formally taken over by the Village of Creemore in 1936 and in 1991 was renamed Gowan Memorial Park to honour the many members of the Gowan family who have given so much to the game of baseball.”
