Plans Announced for a Winter Tennis Dome for Northumberland County in Port Hope

The Port Hope Racquet Club (PHRC), ACE Tennis and The Municipality of Port Hope are delighted to announce their game-changing initiative to expand the Municipality’s current tennis facilities and install a 4-court dome during the fall and winter months.

The existing dome is currently owned and managed by All Canadian Sports Management (ACSM), a Canadian tennis industry leader that is committed to “growing the game” in Canada
and a partner of the PHRC through ACE Tennis.
The PHRC learned of the opportunity to acquire the dome, aka “bubble”, early in spring of 2023.
The Club worked simultaneously with ACE Tennis and the Municipality to develop a proposal for Council approval and identify potential sources of funding.
We are thrilled to announce that on Tuesday November 7th, Council ratified a motion to approve the project moving forward.
This approval allows for important next steps in the project to occur, including site plan review and geotechnical work, which will confirm that the project meets conditions and can proceed.

Why Port Hope?
Nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario, this vibrant and historic town is perfectly situated. There is currently no access to a dedicated indoor tennis facility in the Northumberland, Peterborough and Quinte regions and the courts are easily accessed from the 401 corridor.
“Along with making year-round tennis available to the existing players in the region,
this dome widens access to the sport at all levels and opens up new, affordable options for families who are looking for winter activities,” notes Julia Snoek, Director of Parks, Recreation and
Culture for the Municipality of Port Hope.

Why tennis?
“We know that movement and sport is key for both physical and mental health at any age, but there are some key factors that differentiate tennis;” says Gillian Smith-Clark,
President of the PHRC.
“Tennis is a sport for life and we offer programs starting at age four. It’s an easy entry, low-contact, affordable sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.”

Why Now?
Interest in tennis continues to grow in Canada and in other countries. Yet according to Tennis Canada, only 10 percent of community tennis courts are covered to allow for year- round play. “This is an exciting opportunity for Port Hope, and a win-win situation for all parties,” says Pierre Lamarche, Founder and CEO of ACSM. “Along with all the other benefits, the ability to host tournaments and develop a competitive program will be a huge draw for the community.  Port Hope will become a ’tennis destination’. ”
The PHRC has launched a fundraising campaign to build a fourth tennis court and retrofit the dome over its existing tennis courts, as well as the related capital costs. To learn more about the
“raise the dome” project and how you can support this game-changing initiative, visit: phrc.on.ca/raise-the-dome.
About the Port Hope Racquet Club

Founded in 2002, the Port Hope Racquet Club (PHRC) was established as a non-profit corporation by a group of dedicated tennis players who were passionate about establishing a community club in Port Hope with the goal of growing the game of tennis. Run entirely by volunteers, the PHRC is committed to promoting the game of tennis to the community by providing affordable tennis
lessons, summer camps, leagues, events and tournaments as well as contributing to the maintenance and stewardship of the courts. The PHRC works with ACE Tennis to deliver high-quality
lessons and events. For more information about the PHRC visit PHRC.ca.

About All Canadian Sports Management and ACE Tennis
ACE Tennis is owned and operated by its parent company All Canadian Sports Management, Inc. (ACSM) – a Canadian tennis industry leader committed to “Growing the Game” in Canada.

With over 40 years of experience, ACSM provides leading edge guidance and information to partners requiring assistance in the development of various components of the tennis infrastructure
including facility development and management; player development and management; coaching formation; and events development and implementation.

For more information about ACSM and ACE Tennis, visit: acetennis.ca/all-canadian-sports-management.

Author: Pete Fisher

Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love

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