Proper tack

The group pushing to build new tennis courts in Fort Frances is taking the proper tack in not asking—nor expecting—the town to foot the entire bill.
Rather, the group wisely is pursuing a variety of grants and even has approached Tennis Canada for funding and other help.
The other big piece of the puzzle, of course, will be asking local residents for donations—similar to the campaigns that raised funds to build the Townshend Theatre, Ice For Kids Arena, and the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, as well as the ones in support of various equipment purchases and renovations to improve “care close to home.”
In this time of tight budgets and a dwindling tax base, people will have to open their own wallets if Fort Frances is to see a return of tennis courts.
Having said that, asking town council to keep $112,000 earmarked for the project in the 2015 budget is a reasonable request—and one council should agree to. After all, enabling residents to access another recreation option here is important to the overall public good, especially one that offers such obvious health/fitness benefits.
It also can’t be stressed enough that amenities like tennis courts (and arenas, swimming pools, marinas, theatres, and libraries) play a huge role in making a community vibrant, which, in turn, is key to keeping residents here while attracting new ones.
A town the size of Fort Frances should have tennis courts. But clearly it also should be a partnership between public money and private donations to make it happen.