The decision to retain the Westwood Lake indoor tennis bubble in Nanaimo has been confirmed by the city council. The council voted in support of maintaining the bubble during a special closed-door meeting held on October 14, as stated in a press release.
Situated on Arbot Road adjacent to Westwood Lake Park, the bubble will remain operational under the management of a local non-profit organization. This resolution follows the recent purchase of the land by the city, leading to the closure of the private Westwood Lake Tennis Club, which had been on the market for over a year.
Members of the club and the local community united to advocate for the continuation of the bubble’s services. Whitman Tomusiak, a tennis coach at the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, expressed his satisfaction and surprise at the city’s decision to preserve the facility.
Tomusiak mentioned that the Nanaimo and Area Indoor Tennis Society will oversee the bubble’s operations as a public facility for the upcoming year, aiming to enhance tennis accessibility within the community during the winter season. City officials will commence negotiations on an operational agreement with the non-profit, with the Westwood Tennis Club scheduled for closure on November 1.
The city had previously disclosed the land acquisition on September 16 with plans to expand Westwood Lake Park, adding a hectare of land to the park. The expansion was intended to offer additional parking and improved access to mountain bike trails, complementing the park’s existing amenities.
Charlotte Davis, the city’s parks and recreation director, clarified that the city’s purchase of the land did not entail acquiring the business, indicating that running a club at the location was beyond the city’s mandate. Davis hinted at the potential relocation of indoor tennis facilities to Beban Park, a more centrally located area accessible to the public.
Despite future possibilities, Tomusiak emphasized the immediate necessity for indoor tennis facilities as temperatures drop. He expressed openness to the facility becoming public or relocating to Beban Park, emphasizing the need for prompt action.
Tomusiak acknowledged the likelihood of the facility eventually transitioning into a city park as per the city’s plans, foreseeing the relocation of tennis facilities within the town in the coming years with improved amenities.