CALEDONIA—Thieves struck Henning Park in Caledonia last week, making off with more than $70,000 worth of equipment and leaving the volunteer-run baseball facility scrambling to recover.
Henning Park President John Uildersma said the break-in happened overnight on August 6, 2025 when the thieves cut through locks on the batting cages and broke into multiple storage containers. Among the stolen items were a tractor, a zero-turn mower, Milwaukee trimmers, batteries, chargers, and other maintenance tools.
“They literally just ripped through everything,” said Uildersma. “Now we have to re-secure it all. They also took keys to other equipment, which makes us worry they might try to come back.”
The theft is a significant blow to Henning Park, which operates without tax dollars and relies entirely on volunteers, fundraising, and community donations to maintain its six baseball diamonds.
Uildersma explained that every dollar brought in from food sales, sponsorship signs, and other events goes directly back into maintaining the grounds and keeping them game ready.
“(This theft) slows us down, stops us,” he said. “Baseball games are still going to go on, but now it’s going to be on the backs of volunteers instead of having the proper equipment. We’ve got great people helping us, but losing all this means we have to reset and roll everything back.”
Henning Park has been targeted before. Around 2019, the facility suffered another large-scale theft, losing most of its equipment just before the pandemic. At that time, the loss was somewhat cushioned by the fact that 2020’s baseball season was cancelled due to lockdowns, allowing time for the park to rebuild.
“This time, it’s different,” said Uildersma. “We’ve got games to keep up with. The grass still has to be cut, the fields still have to be ready, the washrooms have to be clean, and the garbage has to be taken out. We’re doing it all without the tools we had.”
The break-in has prompted immediate fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe page organized by community member Marianne Sabatine. In the campaign description, Sabatine wrote, “This isn’t just a break-in. This is stealing from our kids and our community.”
The post urges residents to donate, share the fundraiser, and be on the lookout for the stolen equipment possibly being sold locally.
Insurance is not an option to cover the costs of the stolen equipment. Uildersma said theft coverage isn’t available for their situation and the fundraiser noted the impact of past thefts on insurance options.
The recent theft has also sparked concerns about security. Uildersma said the park had put measures in place, but the thieves were well-prepared.
“The more secure you make it, the bigger the break-in,” he said, noting that the locks were cut cleanly with specialized tools. “They came prepared and knew what they were doing.”
Despite the frustration, Uildersma said the community’s response has been overwhelming. “We’ve had people from all over reach out offering help,” he said. “The baseball world and even people outside of it have extended a hand many times. That’s the big thing for me – seeing how the community comes together.”
The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating. Uildersma confirmed that Henning Park has provided security footage and photos to investigators, but is being careful not to release too much publicly while the investigation is ongoing.
In the meantime, volunteers are working to keep the park operational.
“We’re not shutting down,” Uildersma said. “The kids are still going to have a safe place to play. But this puts us back, and we’re going to need help to move forward.”
The GoFundMe campaign funds will go toward purchasing new mowers, trimmers, and other tools, as well as reinforcing storage areas.
For Uildersma, the motivation to rebuild comes from the young athletes who rely on the park.
“These kids have a really nice facility, all done on volunteer work,” he said. “They deserve to have a place that’s safe and ready for them.”
Donations to the Henning Park GoFundMe can be made online. Organizers say every contribution – no matter the amount – will help get the park back on its feet.
