Delta provides plenty for tennis.
While not saying it directly, that was the hint served up by council and staff last week during what would normally have been not much, if any, discussion of the licence renewal agreement for the Sunshine Hills Tennis Club.
The not-for-profit community group plays at a facility at Carncross Crescent in North Delta, paying the city a fee of $10 per annum.
Parks recreation and culture director Ken Kuntz was asked to point out that of the 10 municipally-owned courts at the facility, four are for the exclusive use of the club. When it comes to the remaining six, the club has preferred times reserved for four of those courts, as well as the clubhouse. Kuntz noted there’s been no complaints from the public about access to the tennis facility.
He also pointed out the club has put “a lot of capital funding” into the four exclusive courts.
A recent report to council notes that the area with the six publically accessible tennis courts underwent a number of improvements by Delta costing $130,000. It also noted that SHTC is the largest tennis club in Delta with 300 members. Coun. Bruce McDonald said the club “has a great history there” including rebuilding the clubhouse.
Members of the private tennis club playing at the indoor tennis bubble at the Delta Town & Country Inn, which would be demolished if the proposed hotel/casino for the site is approved, have been demanding a replacement facility. They formed a group of community tennis players called DeltaTennis.org.
A petition with over 926 names, 538 being Delta residents, was signed by those wanting such an amenity.
During the recent public hearing for the casino, one player described Delta’s outdoor courts as “weed infested” and “unplayable.”
The city is now in discussions with the tennis group, as well as other sport user groups, about the possibility of a multi-sport indoor complex, but it’s early days on that front.
