Errington community members have been advocating for a multi-purpose sports court to be built at their community park.
They will get their wish, however it will be a scaled down project.
The original plan was to establish a facility that will allow pickleball, tennis and basketball to be played.
A conceptual design was then created that provided two options. The first carries an estimated cost of $634,000 and would feature a permanent tennis court that would accommodate four temporary pickleball courts and basketball hoops.
The second option, with an estimated cost of $832,410, calls for a fenced permanent tennis court that will allow four temporary pickleball courts, a separate fenced play surface for ball hockey and basketball.
The cost for the project, however, was deemed prohibitive which led the Area F Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee to come up with an alternative plan, scaled down to reduce the cost.
At the Electoral Area Services Committee meeting on July 3, Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) director Leanne Salter made a motion for staff to proceed with issuing a design-build request for proposal for a multi-purpose sports court with dimensions of 68 feet by 64 feet, incorporating line markings for two standard pickleball courts designed for use with portable nets and a half basketball court with one hoop with optional costing provided for a fencing surround and a second basketball hoop. As well, the design must allow for future court expansion.
"This has been brought to POSAC several times and we've looked at it as a full-size pickleball court, which was more than we were able to afford," said Salter. "So, we're looking at going with a half court for now and sort of doing a phase-in approach. And if this is within the budget then we can have a least a half court to start with. And perhaps add to that in later years."
The committee endorsed the motion to be forwarded to the Regional District of Nanaimo board for consideration.
