At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, June 3, attended by Town of Gibsons representatives, Sunshine Coast Regional District chair Garry Nohr, and members of the public with rackets in hand, subdivision developer Blaine Hagedorn officially transferred Parkland's newly-built tennis courts to the Town of Gibsons' parks department.
"We're really happy to have this facility open ahead of schedule," Hage-dorn said.
Hagedorn said the new tennis courts are easily accessible on foot, by car or by bike. Parkland's main entrance is located on Payne Road at Woodsworth Road, just north of the Venture Way/Gibsons Plaza mall intersection. A network of walking/cycling pathways link the Town's newest neighbourhood to Park Road, the Brothers Park recreation facilities, Sunnycrest Mall and Elphinstone Sec-ondary School.
The tennis courts are an important part of Parkland's innovative sustainable technology model. Below the court surface, geothermal exchange coils collect and distribute heat to (and in summer, from) homes within the development.
Hagedorn partnered with the Town and provincial funding partners to develop the utility, which is now monitored and administered by the Town's public works department.
In recent years, the Town has lost two major tennis courts when the expansion of the school eliminated courts on its property, and construction of new recreation facilities at Brothers Park required relocating that tennis court. As a result, tennis players have patiently lined up, waiting for court time at the Dougall Park facility, anxiously awaiting the opening of these new courts.
"These new courts are a much-needed recreation amenity and a real benefit to residents of Gibsons and the adjacent areas of Elphinstone and West Howe Sound," said Gibsons Mayor Wayne Rowe.
The courts will be maintained by the Town's parks staff and future enhancements to this amenity will be funded jointly by all three areas.
Nohr said the SCRD was pleased to be a partner in funding those future enhancements.
- Submitted
(1).png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
