SLEMON PARK — Two baseball and softball fields at Slemon Park in Summerside have been officially renamed the Richard Pettipas Memorial Ballpark, following a recent dedication ceremony that brought family, park officials and community members together.
Honouring a local volunteer
The ceremony recognised the legacy of Richard Pettipas, described by family and attendees as someone who loved sport and was dedicated to supporting athletes, officials, students and local organisations. As Marissa Pettipas addressed the crowd about her father’s influence, a girls’ softball game on one of the diamonds served as a fitting backdrop.
Members of the Pettipas family joined park representatives at the event. Those photographed and identified after the ceremony include:
- Benjamin Pettipas — Richard’s son
- Marissa Pettipas — Richard’s daughter
- Ryleigh-Rae Pettipas-Chaisson and Sophia Pettipas-Chaisson — his granddaughters
- Vicky Pettipas — Richard’s wife
- Cameron Boyd — partner of Marissa
- Shawn McCarvill — past president, Slemon Park Corporation
Community backdrop and significance
Slemon Park’s ball fields have long been a hub for youth and adult recreational sport in the Summerside area. The renaming formally ties Pettipas’s name to the venues where participants and volunteers gather, play and learn. Organisers said the timing of the dedication — during active play — emphasised Pettipas’s lifelong connection to sport and community involvement.
The event was documented by local media, with a photograph by Jason Simmonds capturing family members and park leaders after the ceremony.
Details at a glance
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Facility | Slemon Park ball fields |
| New name | Richard Pettipas Memorial Ballpark |
| Location | Summerside, P.E.I. |
| Notable attendees | Family members and Slemon Park representatives |
Why it matters locally
Renaming public recreation facilities is a way communities preserve memory and acknowledge contributors whose efforts may otherwise be unsung. For Summerside, the dedication provides a permanent reminder at the town’s sporting heart: each game, tournament and practice now takes place on fields bearing the Pettipas name.
Local coaches, volunteers and parents will encounter that name across signage, schedules and team communications, reinforcing the ties between community service and everyday sport. It also offers the Pettipas family a visible legacy within a public space where generations of Islanders come together.
What residents should know
- Games and practices at the renamed ballpark will continue as scheduled; the dedication does not affect field access.
- The new name will be used in park communications and local scheduling.
- Community members seeking more information about future events at the ballpark can contact Slemon Park Corporation.
The dedication underscores the role volunteers and local advocates play in sustaining recreational sport across Prince Edward Island. The Pettipas name is now woven into the fabric of Summerside’s sporting life — a daily acknowledgement of the impact one family and one individual can have on a small community.
Photo credit: Jason Simmonds / The Guardian.
