The club that runs the tennis courts in High River have a few questions about a proposed new user agreement with the Town of High River.

Sandra Weibe says the club was told there would be a new agreement, but they had no idea until recently that major changes were headed their way.

"We were not aware until last week that the facility would be shared with pickleball people," said Wiebe. "Pickleball people have year round access indoors and we do not."

She adds they had asked the Town for indoor courts at the Field House but were turned down.

"One of the bigger problems with the agreement is there is an expectation that the club is suppose to look after the facility as we have been, except now they are going to run other user groups through there including pickleball."

"How do we manage and take all reasonability, including the insurance, and he (Craig Stanley, Manager of Parks and Recreation) wants us to have other people out there randomly that we are not in control of."

Wiebe said one solution could be to provide one tennis court, which makes four pickleball courts, for the other club.

"Tennis would then remain with four tennis courts and we think that that would be the most fair option," said Wiebe.

She adds they're willing to work out an agreement where they would install a fence with a locking gate so the Pickleball Club could manage their courts, and the Tennis Club could manage their side.

The other problem is the courts need to be resurfaced which will cost about $50,000.

"Those courts were built in 2011 and the longer you wait the more it could cost."

She adds they can try for a grant and if Pickleball has their side perhaps the projects costs could be shared four ways.

Town council instructed Stanley to remove the tennis courts from the Outdoor Rate Bylaw they approved and work on an agreement with the two clubs.

 

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