While administration at the Town of Canmore is planning on doing a recreation master plan next year, Canmore’s tennis club says now is the right time to redevelop and expand the courts at Lion’s Park.
Canmore Tennis Association president Carmen Colborne said the development of Elevation Place, redevelopment plans for the Rec Centre and last year’s flood all delayed the group from making a request for funding to the municipality sooner.
Now with the master plan on the books they were asked to wait another year, but Colborne said there is a compelling case to approve the project now outside that planning process.
“There is a serious shortage of tennis courts in a community the size of Canmore, given the trends, that will get worse,” she said. “We are asking you to consider capital funding of $260,000 in the 2015 budget as money that will be used to match lottery funds.
“Tennis can become a primary sport in this community and funding it now makes it physically and financially feasible in 2015.”
Colborne said improving the courts by increasing them from three to five at the park would benefit all tennis players in the community, not just the association. She also said currently the courts do not meet international standards and by improving them they would be safer and also draw visitors and tournaments to the community.
The association asked for the money in addition to $150,500 it hopes to access from the Community Facility Enhancement Program, $10,000 from the association and $50,000 in kind contributions for a total project cost of $470,500. Colborne said the business plan for the new courts and kiosk projects paying back the $260,000 to the Town through court fee revenues over the next 10 years.
As well, she said with a court project being completed over the next two years, she hopes to participate in the master planning process to see an indoor, year-round tennis facility built.
“What is important is making the point that approving the project now would allow tennis centre to be up and running for a few years before an indoor facility is developed,” she said. “It is now time to say Canmore can build a tennis centre; we can be recognized as the place to play tennis in the Rockies.”
Collecting user data in 2012 for 15 per cent of the playable hours, Colborne said the CTA found the average wait time was 20 minutes and more people wanted to play tennis than the four courts throughout the community could hold.
She compared the ratio of tennis courts to residents for Canmore to other communities. The average is one for 2,500 residents and Canmore has one for every 4,575 residents. However, Colborne said comparing tourism-based communities she found Fernie had one for every 740 residents, Banff one for every 800 and Whistler one for every 400.
If Canmore were to meet the average standard it would have 6.9 courts and as many as 14 if it met the tourism average.
“In our current situation we have a serious shortage, whether measured by demand in 2012 or supply in comparative communities,” she said. “And it is going to get worse.”
Colborne said 6.5 million Canadians play tennis and the sport has seen 32 per cent growth in participation. It is accessible and one of the least expensive sports.
“Finally, tennis is inclusive in the modern era,” she said. “Tennis is a sport for all ages and for all levels, from highly competitive to silly games to have fun for all groups.
“Tennis is a sport Canmore should support.”
