Joey Payeur
The finish line is in sight and soon there will be “love” in the air here–as in, 15-love, 30-love, and 40-love.
Work will resume May 22 on the four new multi-use tennis courts running adjacent to the fenceline that separates Fort Frances High School from the St. Francis Sports Field.
“On that date, the workers will start laying down the top playing surface,” said Community Services manager Jason Kabel.
Court Surface Specialists Ltd., a contractor based out of Mississauga, was back in town over the weekend to assess the site, as well as what materials were needed to finish the roughly $425,000 project, after the onset of winter halted construction late last year.
“They wanted to tidy up and ready the surface for when they come back later in the month,” Kabel explained.
“They also wanted to get the lay of the land for when it’s time for putting in the electrical lines for the light standards,” he added.
“They needed to make sure there has not been too much shifting of the ground over the winter.”
The plan is for the surfaces to be installed over three weeks, although Kabel said the contractor is aiming to have them possibly finished in just two.
“June 9 is the worst-case scenario but they are hoping to be done by June 2,” he noted.
“Hopefully, we’ll have tennis going on out there on June 3 but at worst, it will be June 10.
“We’re very excited that the community will be able to play tennis and pickleball, and do other activities,” he enthused.
Kabel was adamant the 12-foot high fencing around the courts will be sufficient to minimize incidents of any soccer balls from the neighbouring fields finding their way onto the courts during the middle of a match.
“Ball interruptions will happen but only because of people who don’t know how to kick well,” he chuckled.
“If you’ve got a 6.5-foot [high] soccer net and then a 12-foot fence beyond that, you’re going to have to really be off the mark to have it happen,” he reasoned.
“It’s going to happen but I don’t seen it as being a frequent problem.”
Kabel also stressed there was a solid reason not to position the courts further down the fenceline away from the larger soccer field closest to the parking lot.
“We had to take into consideration the natural draw of the land,” he noted.
“The property slopes north to south so the courts had to be built further west, plus the fact there was a concern with mitigating the impact on youth soccer played there, as well.”
Meanwhile, Rick Wiedenhoeft, co-chair of the Fort Frances Multi-Use Tennis Courts Committee, highlighted the fact there still is a $4,400 shortfall when it comes to funding the project.
“We’re still asking people that want to help to donate,” said Wiedenhoeft.
“The project is 80 percent complete so we’re going ahead with it, but we still need to do some fundraising,” he stressed.
Those wishing to contribute can take their donation to the Civic Centre or drop it off at the Memorial Sports Centre c/o either Kabel or Wiedenhoeft.
All cheques should be made out to the Fort Frances Multi-Use Tennis Courts.
