Town council approves up to $40K to repair Anderdon Park tennis courts

By Ron Giofu

Up to $40,000 in repairs are going to be made to tennis courts at Anderdon Park.

The motion approved by town council would involve repairing cracks annually at the courts, a process that would see the grinding down of cracks to eliminate trip hazards and fill the cracks with a sealer. The courts would then be repainted. According to a report from director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon, the repairs would cost approximately $8,500 plus HST annually. Using the $40,000, it would allow for up to four repair treatments, though she noted there is no warranty on the work.

Baillargeon reminded town council of its June 12 motion, where two hard-top tennis courts were approved for the Libro Centre. That would be the equivalent of eight pickleball courts. The June 12 motion also called for the reconsideration of the $140,000 budget item relating to the Anderdon courts, with the new motion calling for an upset limit of $40,000 for Anderdon court repairs and the remaining $100,000 to be put towards the Libro Centre courts.

Councillor Linden Crain said “this is clearly a temporary fix while we’re waiting for courts at the Libro (Centre)” and wanted an idea of what a full reconstruction of the Anderdon courts would cost. Baillargeon estimated a full reconstruction at Anderdon would cost approximately $150,000, with that coming with a warranty.

“Here’s the reality – what we decide here today sends the message to the rest of the community of what the fate of the Anderdon courts are,” said Councillor Peter Courtney.

Courtney favored the option council eventually chose. He said it “gives us some time” and shows there is a future at Anderdon.

Councillor Molly Allaire said she too favoured spending upwards of $40,000 on the Anderdon Park tennis courts, believing it shows they are earmarking money for the future of those courts.

“It shows we don’t give up on the county folks,” said Allaire. “I think that’s very important.”

Another option show the courts would fix it once but she believes it sends a message “we care about you a little bit but we’re going to forget about you after that.”

She said it is important to follow through on the June 12 motion and that would give the Anderdon courts longevity.

“It keeps it going longer,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said it is not yet known exactly how long it will take to construct the Libro Centre courts, and favoured the option that passed. He believed there is a chance repairs could last longer than one year.

Councillor Don McArthur said they are taking a “pocket of money” and planning for the future. He stated he travels Middle Side Road regularly and sees the courts used often.

“We have to keep the courts for the people of Anderdon, for the people in Golfview (subdivision) and Kingsbridge and across the community. It’s a great location, very central,” said McArthur. “Doing it this way, we’re sending a message we believe in the future of those courts and in rural Amherstburg. It’s not just duct tape and bubble gum. We’re putting $40,000 aside so we can continually fix it and the pickleball players and tennis players can continue to play there.”

Mayor Michael Prue asked about the courts at Malden Centre Park, wondering if the weeds could be sprayed and allow children to play on them. He said he was approached by a resident about that but wondered if they were completely beyond saving. Baillargeon replied those courts are beyond saving and need to be excavated.

“You’re rebuilding them completely,” she said, if those courts are to be used once again.