Tennis dome open in Chatham
By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
No matter how you slice it, Chatham’s new tennis dome is serving in style.
Officially dubbed the Chatham-Kent Racquet Centre, the four-court facility is a dream come true for players and organizers alike – particularly for Stephanie and Mark Chapados.
Stephanie, wife of competitive player and coach Mark, said it all began eight years ago when she wanted to find a way to help her husband keep his game sharp during the winter months.
Normally, that meant Mark had to travel to a bigger centre when the cold weather hit. But with the advent of Chatham’s dome, the Chapados and other tennis aficionados can play the game year-round right at home.
“Mark’s in heaven,” Chapados said of her spouse recently. “He’s excited he can play more tennis and he’s happy he doesn’t have to drive to London anymore to play indoor tennis.
“It’s a total dream come true,” she added. “We never thought this would happen. It’s a total pinch-me moment. ”
The dome, which opened Oct. 1 at St. Clair College Community Park, hosted its first official event with South Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (S.W.O.S.S.A.) tennis championships taking place last week. The dome provided indoor space for the boys’ and girls’ doubles matches.
Feedback at the event was overwhelmingly positive, Chapados explained, noting players, coaches and spectators are all impressed.
Ursuline College Chatham educator Troy Biskey, assistant to Pines’ tennis coach Paul Evans, is upbeat about the facility.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Biskey said, noting the dome puts Chatham-Kent’s tennis opportunities on par with big cities like Toronto and Ottawa.
“It’s just good to see young and old being able to experience something like this,” he added.
Robert Pollock, C-K’s director of parks, recreation and facilities, agreed that the dome is generating solid feedback.
“So far, what we’ve heard has been great,” Pollock told The Voice, adding everyone is excited about the park’s many possibilities.
“It’s great for Chatham and for Chatham-Kent as a whole,” he added. “It’s great to be able to bring back indoor tennis (formerly held at The Wheels), plus all the other new amenities.”
According to Chapados, the dome’s schedule is filling up. Several couples are coming for “date nights” she said, with one local husband and wife team hitting the court to celebrate their 19th anniversary.
Demand has been “amazing,” Chapados said, noting new programs are now opening up.
Pickleball players are also accommodated at the dome. A special mat is laid out over each tennis court, transforming them into pickleball courts.
Community members interested in seeing the dome are invited to attend an open house Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. FreeHelpCK will be onsite hosting a charity barbecue and there will be stuff for kids to do as well as free tennis activities. Various raffles will also be held, including one that supports tennis in local high schools.
Numerous membership options are available at the dome. Fees can be paid monthly, with higher prices in the winter months.
An array of programming is offered to young players, ages four and up, and to adult and high-performance players.
The dome is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
However, Chapados said you don’t have to be a member to play, as fees can be paid on a per diem basis.
“If you are going to play tennis more than three times a month, the value is for the membership,” she said.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent chipped in $200,000 for the dome. Tennis Canada and Rogers contributed a combined $200,000. The Chapados undertook private fundraising for the build, with the remainder coming from Tennis Clubs of Canada.
Plans are in the works to begin Phase 2 of the park next year. This will include adding 10 outdoor pickleball courts; a washroom/changeroom/locker facility; two basketballs courts; walking paths and a small playground area and maintenance shed.
Phase 3 will include a cricket pitch and soccer/rugby fields.
St. Clair College Community Park, a 20-acre parcel of land on Bear Line, was donated by the college to the municipality for use as a park. Funding for the project comes by way of the municipality’s capital projects budget.
