Penticton tennis players request city construct indoor facility

Photo: pixabay

The Penticton tennis community wants its bubble back.

Dr. Ali Moshaver was before council Tuesday to bring a request for an indoor tennis facility back before the city.

The demand for an air-supported indoor tennis bubble has percolated amongst tennis players since the old one was replaced by the South Okanagan Events Centre.

There had originally been plans to move the well-used courts to a different location, but that never materialized. 

“We would like to restart the dialogue, the timing could not be better,” said Moshaver. “Tennis is growing very fast… and we are here to collaborate.”

Moshaver said the opening of Salmon Arm’s new indoor tennis facility in June pushed the group of volunteers to restart talks in Penticton.

“If Salmon Arm, with half our population, can support something like that, why can’t we?” he asked, explaining they are envisioning a public facility for all to use.

He threw out a rough cost estimate of $300,000-$400,000 for a four-court facility.

Coun. Jake Kimberley noted the city’s biggest barrier to constructing a tennis bubble would be finding the land that could accommodate it.

Councillors were, however, open to having city staff look at the idea in more depth.

“I think the city made a promise a long time ago, and I think it's time for us to truly see if we can come to some resolution,” Coun. Judy Sentes said.

A motion was passed to have staff study the idea and report back at a later date.