Article content“Our understanding is that the hockey pad is not well used, but for us, being at that location gets us a lot closer to parking, to natural gas, water, sewer, which we believe will have to come off of Wellington Street.”Article contentNot so, said Coun. Laura White (Halifax South Downtown). She said the rink is used a lot even in the summer, primarily for cricket and ball hockey.Article content A map of the proposed new tennis courts for Gorsebrook Park. Jamie Power with Headstart Tennis wants HRM to move the courts to the area with a blue box, where the hockey pad is currently installed. Photo by Headstart Tennis/HRMArticle contentShe questioned Power on how free public access would work. He said all the programs are open to the public to register for, but there are fees to use the facility in the winter to pay for the cost of heat.Article content“It’s just not possible otherwise,” he said.Article contentIn the summer, the dome would be removed (from mid-May to mid-October) and there would be free public access to the courts.Article contentWhen asked about the noise, Power said that most of it would be muffled by the insulated dome.Article contentJust a little soonerArticle content“When it comes down to it, what we’re really asking you to do is just to do what you were going to do anyway, just do it a little sooner and get the concrete footings in. We’re going to go in, we’re going to build it, we’re going to operate it at no cost to the municipality,” Power said.Article contentArticle content“We’re going to increase access to participation in sport to the community, and then we’re going to pay the city a lease to do that. How do we know it’s going to work? It’s been working for over 30 years in Clayton Park.”Article content The hockey pad at Gorsebrook Park in Halifax in a photo taken on Thursday. Photo by Tim Krochak /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentHe said they have support from Dalhousie’s tennis club as well as Tennis Canada, Tennis N.S. and Pickleball N.S., as well as potential funding through a program with Rogers Communications for covering tennis courts.Article contentCovering courts also helps extend their lifespan, he said. “And then you have us looking after them as well, making sure they’re up to date.”Article contentSeeing the potentialArticle contentCoun. Trish Purdy (Cole Harbour – Preston – Westphal – Cherry Brook) said it’s worth looking into and requested a staff report that will go to Halifax regional council.Article content“Our parks and rec program has been really underfunded. We have a growing population and we are not keeping up with the infrastructure needs for our community’s health and wellness,” Purdy said.Article content
Put a dome on it: Tennis group pitches year-round public courts on the Halifax peninsula
