On any sunny day from spring through fall, tennis players can usually be seen playing on the old tennis courts in Townsite. Those courts have been there since 1929 though with time the Powell River Tennis Club has faded out. However, three locals are trying to bring it back.
For years, Vivian Thickett has been attempting to have the courts fixed up and was part of the old tennis club. She is joined now by Rachelle Warman and Ray Dube in reviving the sport and club.
“We had a tennis club for a long time, for probably 20 to 25 years, and then people just got tired of the same people always doing it,” said Thickett. “It stopped. Now we’re trying to revive it. A lot of people are looking for people to play with and they don’t know when to come out. There’s times and days when people will be there for them to play with and also as a club we will probably have more clout to getting the courts resurfaced and repaired.”
By forming the committee, Thickett, Warman and Dube want to bring interest to the sport and bring people together on the courts. At 10 am on Saturday, May 12, the group is hosting an open house at the courts. Everyone is invited to come out and play.
The committee wants to see the courts repaired. Thickett said the courts need it if people want to continue using them. “These ones have had no care except for about maybe 15 years ago—a surface painting. Now they’re really chipped and they’re really bad. They’re starting to be unsafe yet it’s a beautiful facility.”
The clubhouse is also a piece of Powell River history, Thickett explained. It was put on the site in 1932 on an old railway bed. However, it used to be the mill manager’s daughter’s dollhouse until she outgrew it. It was moved to the court site and became the tennis clubhouse.
“It is time to save these courts,” Thickett added. “We’re not going to get new courts with the way finances are right now. We got an estimate three years ago and it was going to cost $122,000 to do all the courts and the back board. When you think those courts were built in 1929, and they’ve only spent $13,000 on them in that time, this is not going to be a big expense.”
Dube added the City of Powell River is in support of fixing the courts but interest needs to be there in order for it to
put out such an expense.
Warman said she was part of the tennis club when she was in university. She’d come home and spend summers playing tennis. The club was a part of her childhood though it died out about 15 years ago.
“I grew up playing tennis so I think it’s important that young people grow up to enjoy that. My kids are getting to the age where they can play and I want them to be able to use the courts.”
Warman explained that for now roles on the committee haven’t been delegated yet. She said they are just trying to get interest out there and “let people know this is the tennis club revival. First and foremost is we want to revive the tennis club. People can come, we’ll have information about when we’re playing, when people are organized.”
Joining the tennis club costs $15 for one person and $25 for couples or families. Club members will have court priority, Thickett explained. Mondays will be Adult Night, Tuesdays will have Ladies’ Morning, and Wednesdays will be Men’s Morning. Thursday evenings will be for youth drop-in.
The committee will also be giving lessons starting May 16 and 17 for all ages and skill levels. For more information on the open house, readers can call Thickett at 604.485.4430. For information on lessons, people can call 604.485.2891.
