What’s wrong? Common tennis courts are falling apart.
Who’s responsible? Blair Blakeney, coordinator of parks,
490-6789.
Remarks: As reader Ross Soward points out, the courts “have
not been resurfaced… they have rusted-out fences, no garbage cans, no
water fountain,” et cetera. And Blakeney completely agrees. The courts,
he says, were built for the 1969 Canada Games, and have only been
resurfaced once in the intervening 40 years. The plan is to completely
rebuild the complex—pull out and re-pour the asphalt, put up new
fences, drinking fountain and so forth. Next spring, he’ll be asking
council to budget $500,000 for the project, and if council agrees, the
work will commence next summer.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2009.
The above remarks are all quite true except that not only is the fencing “rusted-out”, but players on lower court no. 2 risk the fencing falling on top of them, with its 45 degree slant. There is zero maintenance or management of this facility, if one can call it that. Litter and dog dung is everywhere, the bleachers are falling apart and recently one of the fence doors has been ripped off and has been sitting on the ground for weeks as people enter. Being the only public, lighted courts on the peninsula, HRM should make a commitment to this facility.
Recently when playing I was approached by someone inquiring if there was a registration or booking fee for the courts. I replied no, but encouraged the person to take a look around, advising that you can “play at your own risk”.
Now they turned off the lights, which is at least a month too early. There are hundreds of people lining up every day to play. The last two years has seen a resurgence in the sport and the courts are busier than ever – too busy for the amount of courts in Halifax.
Furthermore, the courts at Conrose Park are used for private lessons in the evenings. That’s right, PUBLIC COURTS are used for PRIVATE PROFITS. Most people can only play in the evenings.
HRM is clueless,