The Town of Davidson has approved a request from Emergency Medical Services and STARS to pay for and install a gate in the left field fence of the senior baseball diamond, so air ambulances can land closer to the hospital.

The gate would be a forerunner to a future landing pad for STARS helicopters in the left field of the ball diamond. EMS and STARS initially approached the town with the plan to have a landing pad in the field because according to their own policy they are not allowed to land at the Davidson Communiplex.

“They’ll be right behind the hospital (at) that senior ball diamond,” said Gary Edom, administrator for the Town of Davidson. “They hope to just be able to wheel somebody out from the back door of the hospital to the senior ball diamond. You wouldn’t even need an ambulance to transfer.”

Edom said the Heartland Health Region would be in charge of clearing a pathway in the winter from the health centre to the gate. He said Davidson is requesting the health region also keep the area from the gate to the landing spot free of snow, as initially it was supposed to be the town in charge of clearing this area.

“If they’re going to clear up to the gate, it only makes sense to go a little further while they’re there,” he said. Edom confirmed the pathway from the back door of the hospital to the new landing spot must be cleared 24 hours a day, seven days a week in case of an emergency.

“From my understanding all we’re really committed to right now is putting the gate in,” said Edom, noting there is no timeline as of yet on when this will happen. “There will be lots of details to work out I’m sure as we go.”