Niagara Falls Review e-edition

Dome plan an ace for tennis fans

City is asking for feedback on proposal for seasonal indoor play at Merritton Community Park

KARENA WALTER THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD KARENA WALTER IS A ST. CATHARINE S-BASED REPORTER, PRIMARILY COVERING CITY HALL FOR THE STANDARD. REACH HER VIA EMAIL: KARENA.WALTER@NIAGARADAILIES.COM

St. Catharines is considering a proposal to install an air dome over tennis courts in Merritton during the colder months to allow yearround play and wants to know what residents think.

The dome would be paid for and operated by Tennis Clubs of Canada, which operates eight other domes in Ontario, including one set to open in Niagara Falls this fall.

The proposal, at Community Park on Seymour Avenue, has been a partnership between the city and Tennis Clubs of Canada, St. Catharines Tennis Alliance and the Merritton Lions Club.

Eric Lamothe, St. Catharines manager of business planning and strategic services, said all four partners have goals that align to provide everyone access to the new facility.

“When it comes to the Tennis Clubs of Canada, they’re looking to provide affordable services that are accessible to everybody,” Lamothe said.

“So I think that’s important, that this is going to be a community kind of hub where people of all abilities will be able to have that access to the year-round tennis. And that really fits with us being the city where everybody can play.”

Under the proposal, the city would renovate the three existing tennis courts at the park, which were already on a list for renewal in 2023, and add a fourth court with partnership support. The dome would go up from Oct. 1 to April 30 each year and would be taken down for the warmer months.

In summer, St. Catharines Tennis Alliance would offer programming on the refurbished courts, but they would also be available to the general public for usage.

The city estimates it will receive annual revenues of $10,000 to $15,000 for lease of the space.

The St. Catharines Tennis Alliance was formed in spring 2021 by local tennis players to push the city to fix up neglected courts. In June 2021, a city review found 87 of its 110 tennis, basketball courts and playgrounds were in such bad shape they’d have to close if not replaced by 2031.

Chris Richard, who heads up the St. Catharines Tennis Alliance, said getting a winter facility is something of a dream and wasn’t originally on the group’s radar.

He said there are few options to play indoors in Niagara now, with St. Catharines players travelling to Welland, Vineland or Niagara-onthe-Lake, where private club prices can be cost prohibitive.

“You really have to drive quite a bit in order to play indoors and there’s quite a bit of competition for those spots, so certainly there’s a real need for it,” he said. “We’re really excited about the prospect of this happening.”

Richard said the alliance’s main focus though is the four brand new, high-quality courts that will be available for summer use.

The alliance has plans to fundraise and make a financial contribution to the project. It’s also hoping to form a St. Catharines Tennis Club for the first time in years to bring together players, hold leagues and participate in the sport in a way that doesn’t exist in the city at present.

“What I’ve been telling people is if you build it, they will come,” Richard said, quoting Field of Dreams.

“Because the courts now, even if you had a passing interest in tennis, you simply couldn’t play on the courts and you couldn’t experience what a great sport it really is.”

Residents are being asked to provide their feedback on the dome proposal by filling out a survey at engagestc.ca/IndoorTennis until June 8.

Areport will be sent to city council later this year with the results of the feedback. If the project is approved by council, it’s estimated the outdoor courts would be ready by summer 2024 and the dome operational by fall 2024.

LOCAL

en-ca

2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://niagarafallsreview.pressreader.com/article/281535115364625

Toronto Star Newspapers Limited