By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg council this week passed a motion to begin talks with the Cobourg Pickleball Club about their future at the Sinclair Park tennis courts.
David Gaudette, an original member of the Cobourg Pickleball Club who’s been on the executive since its founding, said they are in their fourth year of play and annual tournaments. They have 250 members, and just recently hosted a tournament that had 270 participants of all ages – in fact, there were a 14-year-old and a 91-year-old bronze medal winner.
While the 10 courts they share with the Sinclair Park tennis club are great, Gaudette said, they are badly in need of work. They have even begun losing members to Port Hope – “because they have pickleball courts. It’s just nicer to play on pickleball courts.
“And unfortunately the courts we have right now are not int he greatest of shape.”
In their first year, they had approached the town to take over Sinclair courts. It was decided, instead, that they would have courts at the Cobourg Community Centre. Unfortunately, the grant that would have allowed this did not come through, so they are looking at where to go from here.
Gaudette noted that the town has set aside $125,000 toward developing pickleball courts. The club has pledged to match this amount and, even before fundraising begins, already have $50,000 to put toward that end.
“If we had been given a lease at Sinclair as we discussed four years ago, we would be almost halfway through our 10-year lease and would have new pickleball courts at Sinclair. What we are dealing with now is courts that need tender loving care,” he said.
Gaudette shared a list of deficiencies, such as the layer of fibreglass over the old asphalt to keep down the cracking – but over the years, the fibreglass layer has begun to bubble and ripple. There is also damage in the washrooms and the clubhouse where equipment is stored.
The club’s proposal is a 10-year lease on Sinclair, and also to match up to $125,000 from the town for work on the pickleball courts.
Gaudette listed the communities surrounding Cobourg that have pickleball courts, but none of them received money from a pickleball group.
“We are willing to do it. It’s hard for me to imagine you would turn this option down when we are willing to put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
They also want to enter into discussions with the town about the work that is needed. For example, the asphalt beneath the fibreglass must be ripped out and replaced. They also had the idea of putting locker into the clubhouse.
“We can make a premium facility at minimum cost to the town. If I am a straight businessman, this is a deal I am jumping all over.”
Councillor Miriam Mutton insisted neighbours must be consulted, though Gaudette said there had been no problems with noise. The club is willing to plant maple trees or even put in a sound barrier to ensure that this continues.
The motion to refer the presentation to staff for a report back to council passed.
Councillor Brian Darling asked if this means the elimination of tennis users. Gaudette said that there are only about six members at this point, and they’d be welcomed at the Coverdale tennis club.
