Vernon will officially be getting a dedicated cricket pitch.

At the Monday, March 24 council meeting, council approved directing administration to install a cricket playing surface at the DND park grounds, 1451 Mission Rd.

Funding for the pitch (up to $30,000), will be allocated from the parks reserve.

The news is a welcome sight for members of the North Okanagan Cricket Club (NOCC). The club had previously been relegated to playing in 琉璃神社, as there were no dedicated pitches in the Vernon area.

"We are battling with the city to find the ground, but it is kind of a nightmare right now,鈥� said NOCC captain Harshana Panthiyage to the Morning Star in 2024. 鈥淎ll we are asking for is a shared ground and 15 feet (to construct the concrete pad).鈥�

The NOCC currently has 134 members from the Vernon area, with an additional 345 within the Okanagan.

Coun. Kari Gares questioned Larissa Price, manager of park projects and community initiatives, about the impact the cricket installation will have on field lacrosse in the area.

"We chose the DND grounds because cricket is looking to play Sundays for games, and that will not pose a conflict for user groups in the area," said Price. "We have reached out to Vernon recreation booking groups and also checked the past two years to see if other user groups will be impacted, which they won't."

Price also clarified that the pitch (an 80-by-15-foot slab) will be cement, with artificial turf layered on top, so that other user groups can use it. 

The city will continue to monitor the cricket club to see if other user groups will be impacted and to ensure that stray balls do not cause disturbances for other groups participating. 

The project will cost $10,000 for the environmental permit process, $10,000 for construction and $10,000 for supplies. The parks reserve fund currently has a balance of $89,091.

The pitch is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 season.

For the first time ever, a cricket tournament played out indoors in the city of Vernon in January. 

NOCC hosted the competition at the Vernon Toyota Indoor Sports Centre, featuring four teams, including one from Salmon Arm, for a total of over 40 players participating. 

The Vernon Strikers defeated NOCC in a hard-fought final. The Vernon Cricket Club and the Salmon Arm Cricket Club were also participating. 

鈥淭his event further boosted Vernon as a cricketing destination even in the winter,鈥� said NOCC member Hashan Sirisena. 鈥淲e are making headway in promoting the sport in the area.鈥� 

For more information on the NOCC, visit its new website: