You wouldn’t call it “love,” but the Oliver Tennis Club and the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society have a better understanding of each other.
The two parties recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), outlining such things as fees and reserved court times.
The tennis club previously challenged the fees it was paying and requested a reduction to $175. But the society directed staff to maintain a fee for service of $400, which would include exclusive use of the courts at specific times.
Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan said the club benefits from the MOU in the following ways: location and electricity for the club’s storage shed; 16 hours per week of exclusive use of the courts; and a “strong voice” when it comes to improvements and development of hard courts in Oliver.
Club president Sam Dimou said he can live with the MOU, but is disappointed with paying the extra fees.
“It will affect the free clinics we planned to offer as they will cost us money, they are not free to us.”
Dimou said the tennis club and the free clinics to the public promote the sport of tennis. Therefore, he finds it disappointing that Oliver Parks and Recreation “seem to place more importance on how much money they will receive from us, rather than promoting the sport of tennis.”
