Lakeview Heights Tennis Club (LHTC) in West Kelowna is putting the plans in motion to erect an indoor tennis facility at the club.
LHTC will be partnering with Tennis Clubs of Canada (TCC) to add an accessible and affordable indoor tennis area for members to enjoy the game throughout all seasons.
In a proposal that was submitted back in February, the club is looking to get four of their eight courts covered with an “air-supported structure,” as phase one.
“The air-supported structure would be removed at the end of the winter,” the proposal stated. “Allowing LHTC to maintain the current spring and summer operation unaffected, with affordable tennis and unobstructed views.”
If there is pent up demand for use in the winter months, the other four courts would get covered, in a phase two approach.
TCC would fully fund the project and operate the facility, contributing 60 per cent of maintenance expenses throughout the year.
Currently, there is only one accessible covered court per 50,000 Canadians, making Canada last among developed nations in this regard. Tennis Canada’s goal is to have one indoor court per 12,500 residents.
The Okanagan is far below these standards.
Currently, Kelowna only has three covered courts (located at Global Fitness and Racquet Centre), zero of which are accessible friendly. There are zero covered courts in West Kelowna and Penticton currently. The closest indoor courts in Vernon are at Predator Ridge (two) while there are three at the Salmon Arm Tennis Club.
The LHTC will hold a special general meeting with members on Saturday, July 1 to vote for the proposal. The board has already approved the proposal, yet it has to get voted on by its members, as per the club bylaws.
If approved, the new structure could be erected in time for the winter, as the proposal lays out a four-month time frame from planning to installation.
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