Dear Mayor and Members of City Council,

We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of the City of Niagara Falls, respectfully submit this petition regarding access to the John N. Allan Park Cricket Ground — currently the only designated municipal cricket facility within our city.

Cricket participation in Niagara Falls has grown significantly in recent years. The city now has more than ten active cricket clubs & teams preparing for the 2026 season, with over 300 active players and thousands of family members and supporters. This includes women’s cricket programs and youth participation, both of which are expanding steadily.

However, the current allocation of weekend access at John N. Allan Park has resulted in limited availability for the majority of Niagara Falls–based cricket clubs. As weekend scheduling is essential for participation in the Hamilton District Cricket League (HDCL), allocating both weekend days primarily to a single club effectively prevents other local teams from hosting league matches within their own city.

As a result:

• Multiple Niagara Falls–based teams are forced to host “home” games outside the city.
• Clubs incur significant private rental costs to access alternative facilities.
• Local residents are unable to utilize their own municipal cricket ground during peak league season.
• Women’s and community cricket programs face scheduling challenges due to a lack of weekend access.

We respectfully emphasize that a public, taxpayer-funded municipal facility should be administered in a manner that ensures fairness, transparency, and equitable access for all eligible Niagara Falls–based organizations.

In light of the above, we respectfully request that City Council:

1. Review the current allocation process for the John N. Allan Park Cricket Ground.
2. Ensure that no single organization has exclusive weekend control of a public facility during peak league season.
3. Establish a transparent and equitable scheduling framework allowing proportional access for all Niagara Falls–based clubs.
4. Invest in the development of additional cricket facilities to accommodate rising participation and demand in the region.

Cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada, and Niagara Falls has a strong and engaged cricket community. Supporting equitable access will foster inclusion, promote women’s participation, enhance community cohesion, and potentially attract regional tournaments that benefit local businesses and tourism. Building additional dedicated cricket grounds in Niagara Falls will address the growing demand for safe, high-quality playing facilities, reduce overuse of existing fields, and support the long-term development of the sport for youth, women, and competitive leagues alike.

We submit this petition in good faith, representing residents who seek fairness, transparency, and responsible stewardship of public facilities.

We respectfully request Council’s attention to this matter and look forward to a constructive resolution that serves the broader Niagara Falls community.

Petitioners

1. Jithin Lohi (Niagara Tuskers CC )
2. Mogees Mian  (BADSHAH CC )
3. Paul Joseph (Kingsmen CC)
4. Karan Pal ( IMPERIAL CC )
5. Navtej ( Mehfil CC )