The Nelson Tennis Club’s plans for a multi-sport complex will now become a reality.
Columbia Basin Trust announced Monday it would provide $126,550 in funding for the four-court facility that also includes three pickleball courts, two basketball half-courts and a road hockey strip located behind L.V. Rogers.
The complex already has backing from School District 8, which is also chipping in $104,000 this year for the estimated $300,000 project. SD8 is committed to between $109,000 to $139,000 over two fiscal years.
“This is about renewing a degraded site. It’s about partnering with School District 8 to get more kids and community members playing tennis and other outdoor sports,” said the tennis club’s president Keith Bridger in a statement.
“We are therefore really appreciative of Columbia Basin Trust’s invaluable contribution and are excited about getting on with the work this spring.”
Construction on the site is set to begin in May starting with the replacement of old tennis courts and removal of nearby fallen trees, while basketball, road hockey and pickleball surfaces will also be added this year, followed by plans for two washrooms and parking in 2019.
The club also plans to do further fundraising for a clubhouse and viewing platform to be built in 2020, and for court lighting to be added in 2021.
City councillor Valerie Warmington, who is also chair of the Recreation Commission, said she was thrilled by the announcement and praised the club for what she calls a community-led initiative.
“I think that’s what, for me, makes it most exciting, the level of involvement from their club and from all of the partners and others who they have drawn in to support them on this,” she said.
Related: School district backs Nelson Tennis Club’s plans for multi-sport complex at LVR
This was the last intake of CBT’s three-year Recreation Infrastructure Grants program, which added 53 new projects and over $3 million in funding this year. Other local projects funded include:
• Hume School: $20,500 to expand and upgrade its playground.
• Glacier Gymnastics: $19,000 for plans to renovate the club’s upper floor revitalization project.
• City of Nelson: $65,000 to install new outdoor exercise equipment at Lakeside Park.
• Nelson Cycling Club: $25,000 to join a section of the Trans Canada Trail to the Silver King Trail.
• Nelson Nordic Ski Club: $11,600 to build a bypass trail.
• South Selkirks Backcountry Association: $8,600 to upgrade the West Kokanee Cabin.
• Silverton: $20,250 to install outdoor exercise equipment.
• Slocan Park Community Hall: $42,000 to upgrade a playground.
• Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society: $28,000 to upgrade and develop local trails.
• Kaslo Golf Club: $4,700 to build junior tee boxes.
tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter