Game, set, match... 

City council has approved to make repairs to the Crescent Park tennis courts a priority in the Parks and Recreation 2022 to 2026 Capital Budget. 

The Moose Jaw Tennis Club came to city council on Tuesday night requesting the funding that has traditionally been split 50-50 between the city and the tennis club. 

“There have been no public courts in this city since I think the mid to late 80s, so we are the sole source of tennis outdoors in Moose Jaw and, going back to the 70s and possibly even further when it's been time to do work to the tennis courts, the city has always participated,” said Scott Evans, representing the Moose Jaw Tennis Club. 

The project would repair cracks and lay an embedded fiberglass system over the existing base. It expected to cost about $120,000. 

The tennis club estimated that the repairs would give the courts eight to 10 more years of use. Without the work, the club said the courts would need to be replaced in two to three years at a price of $200,000. 

“Especially over the last two winters, the courts have deteriorated quite rapidly and we reached out to the City of Moose Jaw looking to get some funding for this year, and unfortunately the contractors that we had been talking to are pretty booked up,” Evans said. 

The repairs are expected to take place next year. 

Mayor Fraser Tolmie applauded the fact that the tennis club came to the city with their request early. 

“We try and get our budget process done so that we can get tenders out sooner rather than later so that we can be one of the priorities and get a better price on contracts,” he said. 

The motion to prioritize the tennis courts passed 6-1 with Coun. Kim Robinson opposed. Robinson said he would be more inclined to support the motion if the courts could be used for more than just tennis. 

“So many communities have dual purposed their tennis courts and we know Moose jaw probably has around 300 pickleball players with no place to play,” Robinson said. 

The last major repair to the tennis courts came in 2012 when the entire surface was recapped along with a colour finish coat and line painting. That project cost about $151,000 that was split between the city and the tennis club.