Construction Begins
Construction has started on Fredericton's $2.1-million signature indoor tennis facility to the delight of members of the Capital Region Tennis Association, Tennis Canada officials and politicians from all levels of government.
Above are Fredericton-Fork Nashwaak MLA Pam Lynch; Coun. Steven Hicks, chairman of the community services committee; David Clark, chairman of the Capital Region Community Tennis Centre Inc.; Mayor Brad Woodside; Bill Johnson of Wood Motors Ford and first corporate donor; Mark Thibault, executive director of Tennis New Brunswick; and Tulla Bateman-Parkin, director of fund development for Tennis Canada. They were on hand Tuesday at the site of the Grant*Harvey sports complex for the turning of the soil to kick off the construction of a tennis facility to be located behind the centre.
City, tennis and government officials braved the drizzle Tuesday to pose for shutterbugs at Scotiabank Park South's Grant*Harvey Centre.
The tennis facility will be built adjacent the new indoor ice hockey arena, due to open in March, and will share its geothermal heating system to cut energy costs.
With six permanent indoor courts, the community tennis centre will encourage people of all ages to embrace the sport, while providing a centre where competitive play at all levels can be hosted, said Capital Region Tennis Association past president David Clark.
Clark, who's also the chairman of Capital Region Community Tennis Centre Inc. - the not-for-profit organization that will operate the facility - said growing tennis and making it accessible to leisure players and young people who can engage in sport for health and fun are equally as important as providing a venue for competitive tennis.
"It's a wonderful project. It will be the largest indoor tennis facility east of Montreal," said Mayor Brad Woodside.
"It's going to be very exciting for the tennis community in Eastern Canada."
Coun. Steven Hicks said the construction of the tennis structure will allow the city to add competitive tennis events to its growing roster of sport tourism events.
"This will be the marquee spot in eastern Canada for tennis, so we'll get some provincial tournaments and national tournaments, and we'll go from there," he said.
"Hopefully, everyone in the community benefits from this project."
With the foundation poured and work starting on the building - which was designed by Frank Goddard at Eastern Designers and Company Ltd. as his gift to the community - Clark said a corporate fundraising campaign called Let's Make Tennis Matter in New Brunswick has been launched to raise the remainder of the cash needed to complete the structure.
Tennis Canada donated $250,000 to start the project. Tennis enthusiasts pledged a matching $250,000 to begin the project. The Regional Development Corp. and the provincial government jointly committed a little more than $1 million, and Clark said he hopes to announce a major benefactor whose donation will go hand in hand with naming rights.
That leaves it to Clark and the Capital Region Tennis Association to come up with a shortfall in the order of $350,000.
At Tuesday's sod-turning event for the construction launch, Bill Johnson of Wood Motors gave the corporate fundraising drive a generous $25,000 kickstart, Clark said.
Tulla Bateman-Parkin, director of fund development with Tennis Canada, said the search for additional sponsors will expand beyond New Brunswick, to the Atlantic region and nationally.
"Our goal really is to open this up to everyone in the community, not just within Fredericton proper, but in the surrounding areas as well," Bateman-Parkin said. "It is a model project for the rest of the country. It's absolutely our mandate to grow the sport."
About six years ago, when Tennis Canada was courted by the Capital Region Tennis Association for funding support, it sparked interest in a national facilities program, which now helps communities design and build facilities.
"Tennis provides so many health benefits that we've now got it in schools across the country, community centres, so we want that passion that once someone plays tennis, they fall in love with it and want to play year-round," Bateman-Parkin said.
"One of the important parts of this project is that no child will be refused based on financial means, but it is an inexpensive sport to start."
"This whole project and what Tennis Canada is doing is to grow tennis at a community-based, grassroots level making it accessible to everyone," Clark said.
"This is an exciting time for local tennis enthusiasts as well look forward to the final phase of this project. We are committed to growing the sport of tennis in our region, with all ages and abilities and backgrounds," said Brent Howe, president of Capital Region Tennis Association.
"Our vision is that every child and teen in the city owns a racket and plays tennis 12 months of the year."
The courts will be built to international standards and accommodate all types of tennis play, including wheelchair tennis.
Clark said the city and tennis centre are in talks that could see the city transition its tennis program to the facility.
Fees to play at the facility will be set at nominal levels.
The tennis centre is also courting the provincial government for funding assistance to help operate some of its services.
It has also applied to Energy New Brunswick for assistance since the building's design will incorporate energy efficiencies.
The University of New Brunswick will also form a partnership with the tennis centre. Clark said he expects kinesiology students can be involved in internship and research opportunities and work opportunities at the facility.
The building will be complete late winter to early spring.