1954 Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel devastated most of southern Etobicoke washing out trailer parks at the base of Etobicoke creek, and flooding lands as far north as the park. Our future home park, Etobicoke Valley Park at 72A Westhead Drive, was littered with trees and wreckage from Hazel. Many homes lost much of their backyards facing the creek from rain, causing landslides.
The Borough of Etobicoke, as it was known back then, used relief funds from Hurricane Hazel. The park was reconstructed with two soccer fields, which didn’t last long, and two caged diamonds for our players with no night lights on the main diamond, washrooms or snack bar. The League still maintained home field at Alderwood Memorial Park, while the diamonds in the Valley were being constructed.
As the saying goes, “Build it and they will come”, and so we did, making Etobicoke Valley our Home Diamonds. The city built washrooms, and installed light standards on the “A” diamond. You will notice a horseshoe bench by the big tree near the bottom of the stairs. It was set up as the original snack bar. A car would back up to the opening and sell snacks to players and parents.
