Creemore Tennis Club has big plans
The Creemore Tennis Club would like to expand and become a more inclusive community hub, but they could use some help from Clearview Township. Given the burgeoning popularity of pickleball, the club’s past-president and treasurer Lawrence Bell said the club would like to add a pickleball court to the north of the existing tennis courts, and become a racquet club as opposed to purely tennis.
“Basically this would mean adding an asphalt pad adjacent to the tennis courts,” explained Bell. “It would be open as opposed to fenced and would not require the removal of any trees.”
The anticipated cost of the new court is about $25,000. It would be situated on township property within Gowan Park. Discussion of the possible expansion began years back when the club was encouraged by township staff to have engineering drawings prepared. Bell said the current township administration has demonstrated no enthusiasm for the project.
The club currently has 160 members of all ages three and up. Membership is just $60 per year for adults and $30 for children, and help is available if that fee is a barrier. Fellow volunteer Jennifer White, the club’s treasurer, said the tennis club is a keystone element of all-ages sport in Creemore. There is no other program with comparable opportunities for all ages.
“We moved here during the pandemic and it was a really cost effective way to meet people and stay active,” said White.
The club offers lessons for kids and adults, plus summer tennis camps, a variety of tournaments and Friday Play & Pint socials. Overall, White said the age of members is going down.
“We’re getting more families with younger players which is a good thing because younger players become lifelong players,” she said.
Courts are open from 7 a.m. until dark from early spring through late fall. White said Saturdays and the early evening hours get very busy, but there is still plenty of capacity to add members.
Repainting the existing courts is a priority for the club.
“This surface is 24 years old is beginning to show its age. Most clubs resurface their courts every six to eight years,” according to Bell.
The existing courts were built in large part with a $25,000 donation from the Barnard family. The total cost back in 2000 was around $40,000. Now, Bell said, estimates just for repainting range between $25,000 and $35,000. The club is in the process of searching out grants to help with the cost, and may look at sponsorships from local businesses as a source of fundraising.
Bell notes that the township identified recreation and culture as a priority in the most recent Strategic Plan and stressed the importance of partnering with community groups. He said the Creemore Tennis Club is ready to rally around the cause.
