Oliver’s only racquet sport court has received a much-needed facelift and expansion to include pickleball courts.
The Oliver Sport Court now boasts four new pickleball courts, three freshly resurfaced tennis courts, new perimeter fencing and gates and new equipment including net posts, nets and court dividers.
The Sport Court Development project was part of the approved 2022 Oliver Parks and Recreation capital financial plan to ensure all costs to expand and resurface the courts are met.
Oliver Parks and Recreation was successful in their 2020 application to the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative program (CHCI) for funding in the amount of $42,567 for the construction of new courts.
A committed group of court users led by local resident and sports enthusiast Janet Shaw formed a fundraising committee in the early stages of the project. Through a sponsorship banner drive and personal donations, the funds raised by the community total just under $40,000.
The total cost of the project was estimated in 2020 to be $140,000, however, with the cost inflation of supplies, materials and labour over the past 18 months, project costs are expected to come in approximately 20 per cent higher at $170,000.
While the project planning and preparation has been in the works since 2018, the construction of the courts started in late March and was completed slightly ahead of the anticipated timeline on May 24.
The courts officially opened on May 25 and have been seeing steady use by local players and visitors since then.
“The overwhelmingly positive reaction from our local players on the quality of the playing surface and facility overall has been really rewarding to hear,” says Parks and Recreation Manager Carol Sheridan.
“It took a lot of effort from a lot of people to get to this point, so to see the courts being used and knowing this project will help to build these sports in this community feels really good.”
A grand opening event open to the whole community will be held at the courts in Oliver Community Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 to celebrate the completion of the project.
The recognition and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. and both the tennis and pickleball clubs will be running round-robin play for club members in the morning and offering time in the early afternoon for drop-ins/new players to hit the courts.
Raffle tickets are being sold for several prize packages for a big draw at 1 p.m. and there will be BBQ burgers and smokies and drinks for purchase until 2 p.m. or until supplies last, with all proceeds going towards the completion of the Sport Court Development project.
