An Ottawa woman is calling for changes to a softball diamond after a foul ball smashed through her car windshield and came dangerously close to where her seven-year-old son normally sits. Amanda Brown says she was driving along Castlefrank Road in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood of Kanata earlier this month, when a ball came over the diamond and through her back windshield. Graham Ball Softball Diamond is located at the corner of Abbeyhill Drive and Castlefrank Road. “It startled me because it was super loud. I swerved a little bit,” Brown said. She pulled over, then returned to the parking lot near the field to speak with the players. But Brown says she was disappointed by what happened next. She says the team directed her to the city and her insurance company rather than helping address the damage. “It didn’t feel like a sense of community,” Brown said. “I’ve grown up in Glen Cairn, so the fact that they just kind of let me walk on my own, it sucked.” CTV News Ottawa reached out to the Glen Cairn Ladies Softball League but has not heard back with a statement or clarifications to questions. Brown ultimately went through her insurance. She says replacing the windshield was quoted at about $1,500, leaving her with roughly a $500 deductible. But the financial hit isn’t what worries her most. Brown says a glass technician pointed out where the ball landed inside her vehicle — directly beside where her son’s car seat was. “If it had been different circumstances with him in the car, the outcome could have been worse,” she said. Brown says she isn’t looking to blame the softball players. She wants someone to take responsibility and wants the city to look at the protection around the field. “I would like someone to accept responsibility. We’re all adults,” she said. Her proposed fixes include extending the netting farther toward the roadway and potentially adding trees as another natural barrier. Since sharing her experience, Brown says several other people have contacted her with similar concerns. One woman told her a ball landed at her feet. “If she had been walking, it would have been her head,” Brown said. Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley says his office hasn’t received a similar complaint in roughly 15 to 20 years, but says the incident is being taken seriously. “Everything is a safety concern,” he said. The city previously added additional netting more than a decade ago. Staff are now reviewing the existing setup, including gaps in the netting and whether additional protection is feasible. Hubley says trees could also help protect people on the road and sidewalk. At the same time, he says eliminating the risk entirely isn’t realistic. “You can’t 100 per cent prevent it from happening here,” Hubley said. He says staff will use the winter to examine possible improvements, including whether stronger mesh could be used. In a statement, the City of Ottawa says repairs were made to the outfield protective netting at the softball diamond on Aug. 7 after reports of damage and maintenance needs. It says there is no specific regulations for safety netting on recreational ball diamonds but installs netting at locations where there is an “identified risk.” “As part of regular maintenance, the city regularly monitors the conditions of its ball diamonds, including netting. Staff also consider the caliber of play on each diamond based on the size and configuration of the field and potential impacts on adjacent amenities. Where concerns are identified, additional netting or fencing may be installed to help mitigate the risk,” said Dan Chenier, general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services. Chenier adds the city will review measures to address any issues identified this year before the 2027 season. For Brown, the goal isn’t to stop softball. It’s to reduce the chance that another foul ball reaches the road, a vehicle — or a person.
