The Wilbur Sparkes Complex in Bay Roberts has reopened after high winds toppled a light pole on Sunday.

Winds in excess of 100 km/h cracked the stadium lightpole off at its base and sent it toppling over onto the nearby safety mesh.

The town decided to leave it where it was and wait until today to assess the situation. Mayor Philip Wood says the pole, lights and netting have been safely taken down and the complex is now open.

Earlier Story

High winds are believed to have caused a lightpole to crack and hang precariously over a recreation complex in Bay Roberts on Sunday.

As a result, town officials announced that the Wilbur Sparkes Complex would remain closed indefinitely for safety reasons.

Leslie Ann Smallwood of Bay Roberts posted a video of the scene at the field before police and town officials had arrived.

 

Mayor Philip Wood told VOCM the netting around the ball field is the only thing holding up the cracked pole and lights.

“We have the power off and hopefully can get the pole removed ASAP so we don’t drag down other poles, the net and the fence,” he said. “So as a caution we ask that all stay away as it’s still windy out this way.”

Wood said fortunately there were no games at the field Sunday, but he said many kids use the adjoining skate park and the field on their own sometimes.

As a result, he said staff will remain on site to keep people away, along with yellow police tape put around the area by RCMP.

Wood said the damaged pole would likely be removed first thing Monday morning.

Wind warnings were in place for the Avalon and Bonavista peninsulas for most of Sunday, with maximum gusts of 100 km/h along the coastline.