I popped by Capital Coun. Clive Doucet’s office this afternoon to hear what he had to say about Sylvia Holden Park, which is right beside Lansdowne Park. Doucet is frustrated about the small park being included in the redesign contest for Lansdowne’s front lawn.

For Doucet, it’s just another reason to hate the Lansdowne Partnership Plan, which has the city working with the private Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to redevelop Lansdowne. He’s pointing to his Sept. 2, 2009 motion to keep the five acres of park (which includes baseball diamonds, basketball court, splash pad and playground) out of the redevelopment. City council passed the motion and now Doucet believes any redesign that includes Sylvia Holden Park flies in the face of that September motion.

Caroline Vanneste, president of the Glebe Community Association, also wrote to Coun. Peter Hume last month to voice her displeasure about the inclusion of Sylvia Holden Park in the contest redesign area. Conserving parkland is particularly important to residents because there’s so little of it in the Glebe.

I asked Doucet if he plans to take immediate action at the council or committee levels, but he says he’s going to wait until the final vote comes in June to point out this issue.

On a personal note, if the design firms sketch new baseball diamonds (pictured), I hope they extend the fences. I’ve seen guys virtually one-arm balls over the fence for home runs in recreation games. It’s a great place to play ball, especially on a summer night under the lights.