Pickleball players told seniors housing plan will try to accommodate their court

Craig Bakay | Nov 03, 2021

“I’ve driven by and it’s great to see all those folks there,” Mayor Frances Smith told a delegation of pickleball enthusiasts at the regular (online) meeting of Central Frontenac Council Oct. 26. “I do have my equipment and now I just need somebody to show me how to do it.”

Rhonda Kimberly-Young and Sandy Robertson went throw a presentation for Council outlining how the court (aka the Sharbot Lake Sports Court) came to be, who uses it and how they and the community benefits from it.

Last spring, Robertson and others took a look at the old tennis courts beside the former Sharbot Lake Public School property and decided to have a go at sprucing things up there to accommodate a pickleball court.

They raised funds for equipment, sealing of the court and line painting. They put up a windbreak along the fence.

“We removed 10-12 truck and trailer loads of Manitoba maples, debris and cracked asphalt,” Robertson said. “Funds were raised and directed to the rec committee for tax receipts.”

Since then, they have recruited volunteers for maintenance and now claim more than 100 users (90 per cent pickleball) which also includes tennis, badminton and basketball players as well as kids riding their bicycles and scooters. They established a social media network of fellow enthusiasts an in September, they held their first tournament.

“It sorta exceeded our expectations,” said Kimberly-Young.

They would also like to develop the area behind the court for horseshoes, bocce ball and other low-cost, low-maintenance recreation opportunities.

“If there is a commitment from the Township to retain the area, the pickleball group could pursue grants to support improvements to the playing surface, the removal of stumps along the fence, etc and to continue ongoing fundraising needed for minor costs like replacing equipment as needed.

Smith again affirmed her support but cautioned that this was not a blanket endorsement etched in stone.

“We’d like to keep it right there as seniors would likely be among your players,” she said. “My only concern is that it’s the only flat spot on the property and we’ll need space for water and sewer. I guess we could make another flat spot though.

“But, we would like to try to work it into whatever plans we come up with, even though it will likely take a couple of years before we’d have anything concrete.”

“Yes,” said Coun. Victor Heese. “Give the Township a bit of time.

“Don’t go out and spend a lot of money.”

“We’ll try to build around it — not over it,” said Smith.

Sharbot Lake Seniors Housing

The proposed Sharbot Lake seniors housing site could be the “ground-breaker pilot project” for the Frontenac Municipal Services Corporation, Frontenac County Manager of Planning and Economic Development Manager Joe Gallivan told Central Frontenac Council.

Gallivan and CAO Kelly Pender have been making the rounds of lower-tier municipalities selling their scheme to underwrite potential financial risk in housing developments.

Gallivan said a study will be completed by next March and there is potential for Soldiers Memorial Hall to be on the system as well as perhaps several nearby residents, such as is in the plan eventually for Marysville on Frontenac Islands.

Coun. Brent Cameron asked about potential costs for individual households tying in and wondered aloud if it would be like the controversy that surrounded the Sydenham water treatment plant.

“In Sydenham, they overbuilt and needed commitment,” Pender said. “The commitment here would be much smaller.”

“We have no further comments and this can go to the next step (public comments),” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Fire Report

Council received a report that Central Frontenac Fire and Rescue stations successfully completed their five-year recertification for Water Tanker Shuttle Accreditation, not only meeting the requirements for the testing but increasing our municipal ratings at all four stations.

“Congratulations to our firefighters,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “They did amazingly well and we’re proud of them.”

Youth Program

Council passed a resolution to allow the Youth Program to use Township halls but stopped short of waiving the $30 rental fee until it can see what the program’s budget is like.

The Township already contributes $15,000 a year to the program that serves 10-17 youths in Mountain Grove and Sharbot Lake.

Vaccination policy

A proposed vaccination policy for Township employees, volunteers and such was part of the Oct. 26 agenda but was dropped before the meeting.

CAO/Clerk Cathy MacMunn said they still had to work out a few things and the policy would be brought back for the first meeting in November.