Call it 30-love.
The City of Burnaby is partnering with Tennis Canada to create the Western Canada Tennis Centre at Burnaby Lake.
The facility, as announced Tuesday, will feature 12 indoor and 12 outdoor courts and provide ancillary training and fitness facilities, including a strength and conditioning centre, a physiotherapy clinic, sport analytics room, as well as change rooms.
A major portion of the agreement will see Burnaby become the host of the junior national training program for Western Canada, as well as a training facility for top B.C. tennis players, including wheelchair athletes.
“Tennis Canada and the City of Burnaby have a shared vision for a Western Canada Tennis Centre, and today marks an important step in making that vision a reality,” Tennis Canada president and CEO Michael Downey stated in a press release. “The Lower Mainland is a hotbed for recreational tennis, and adding more indoor courts will allow for greater year-round play.”
Cost estimates and exact design will be unveiled in the months to come, along with a fundraising campaign to support the facility.
At the Burnaby Tennis Club (BTC), rumours of a local national training facility has been talked about, so the announcement is seen as a big, but first, step.
“We’ve been talking with the city about this for three years and generally feel it’s a good thing for the sport and the club,” said BTC president George McLachrie.
He said the club is at capacity with 300 members, and an increase of courts for the community should help in the growth of the sport.
He added, in a prepared statement: “It is still too early to know how this will impact (the club) but the BTC board will be actively engaged throughout the process with Tennis Canada and the City of Burnaby to stay informed and connected on developments and work to ensure an outcome that is most favourable to Burnaby Tennis Club and its members.”
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan was pleased that Burnaby Lake would be adding to its already extensive sports portfolio, with rugby, rowing, soccer, tennis and the Fortius Centre part of a regional centre that surrounds the Bill Copeland Sports Complex.
“This facility will see tennis being played by children, youth, families and seniors, regardless of their age, ability or aspirations,” Corrigan said in a press release. “The WCTC will enhance Burnaby’s reputation as Canada’s leading sports and recreation city, and it will be a welcome addition to the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.”
