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Bocce players fight to keep indoor facility in Richmond Hill

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 2, 2016
Kim Zarzour

A group of “disappointed and full of grief” bocce players crowded into Richmond Hill town hall Nov. 1, urging councillors to save their beloved indoor bocce facility at Rouge Woods.

Changing demographics and demand in the community in southeast Richmond Hill led to a staff recommendation to dismantle the facility and convert it into a multi-purpose gymnasium.

Councillors voted to accept the staff recommendation Tuesday afternoon. The decision is up for final approval as part of the capital budget at council’s meeting Nov. 28.

The decision was not a popular one among the mostly senior Italians who have used the courts since 2001.

“Removing the bocce from Rouge Woods is very serious to them,” said Josie Brunetto, president of the Richmond Hill Social and Bocce Club.

“Thinking of it being removed is just unbelievable. They just can’t bear it. They’re seniors; they need a place to go and this is something they look forward to. Some of them go every day… We even have 96-year-olds come out and play, so this has got to mean something.”

But a staff report showed declining membership over the years.

The 7,200-square-foot indoor facility opened 15 years ago with 266 members and was supported with town subsidy, but, despite efforts by the town to boost membership, the number of users has dropped to 80.

As a result, the town’s subsidy of 87.76 per cent has steadily increased, the staff report said.

On the other hand, there is mushrooming demand for gymnasium facilities townwide and in the Rouge Woods community in particular.

Town staff recommended Richmond Hill provide portable courts for indoors that could be used at Richvale Community Centre and Richmond Green, providing three evenings per week and two mornings per week to the those who wish to play.

The portable system is used for competition and while it is shorter than the Rouge Woods Indoor facility courts, the size is accepted by the Special Olympics and is used in many sites in the U.S. and Canada, the report stated.

The City of Mississauga has recently purchased these portable units for use in one of their recreation facilities.

Cost per court, including the portable turf and enclosure, is estimated at approximately $7,000 per court.

Cost to convert the indoor bocce facility at Rouge Woods, which was constructed with a future repurposing in mind, is estimated at $942,800,  including about $300,000 to improve the lighting to LED and replacing the wooden floors in the adjoining gym.

The bocce courts would remain open until mid-2018, with construction beginning later that same year.

Bocce club members said “they were not interested in a portable playing system whatsoever and feel that Richmond Hill should continue bocce as is presently being provided,” the staff report said. “They expressed their concerns with a portable bocce playing surface not being safe with the potential for balls to leave the court area. They also expressed their concerns in reducing their access to bocce to anything less than the current seven days per week.

Darlene Joslin, parks and recreation director, said the courts have been used in the UK, US and Mississauga and there have been no safety incidents,  but the town will continue to monitor it to ensure safety.

The sole dissenting vote in favour of the staff recommendation came from Ward 1 Councillor Greg Beros.

“We’re saying, ‘Take less, it’s OK, we’re serving the greater good’,” he said. “But there are times in a government you have to say it’s not always about the dollar. It’s not always about the majority.”

Ward 3 Councillor Castro Liu noted that instead of serving less than 100 bocce players, and the town subsidizing 87 per cent of their costs, a repurposed gym would serve more than 1,200 residents per week and generate a a higher revenue.

 “We’re not here to fight the bocce players. We’re not here to fight Italian seniors,” said Liu, in whose ward Rouge Woods is located. “I have to make a decision that is in the best interests of the town. Sometimes it’s not an easy decision, but, over the years, I have received tremendous pressure from my residents who see that most of the time, the bocce courts are vacant, while hundreds of residents are trying to book some gym time to play indoor sports such as basketball, badminton, table tennis and lots of other seniors groups who want a place to meet. They can’t find anything.”

SIDEBAR

The current indoor bocce membership fee is $125.00 +HST for residents who enjoy the facility exclusively 7 days per week on a year-round basis.

Moving to a portable system with fewer days per week, staff are recommending that the membership fee currently in place for the 55+ programs be implemented, giving members access to the bocce playing times as well as all programs, events and activities offered in the 55+ program area.

Combined Membership and Drop-in Fees: