Newmarket Tennis Club takes a swing at proposed parking structure being built on its downtown courts

New tennis facility being built in Shining Hill subdivision but won't be ready for this year's summer tennis season.

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 2, 2024
Lisa Queen

Members of the Newmarket Tennis Club are signing a petition about a proposed parking structure that would be built on the organization’s downtown site.

While the club will eventually move to new courts in the Shining Hill subdivision, they won’t be built before construction of the parking structure at the north end of Doug Duncan Drive, a stone’s throw from Main Street.

That could leave the club without a place to play this season, although the town is looking into alternatives.

The proposed parking structure will be discussed at a town meeting Feb. 5.

But some members of the tennis club are upset, with almost 600 people signing the petition as of Jan. 31.

“The Newmarket Tennis Club had been more than just a tennis club for many of us,” the online petition said.

“It’s been a second home, a place where we’ve not only stayed active and healthy but also built lasting connections. Now, the Town of Newmarket is planning to replace this cherished space with parking lots. This decision threatens to leave us without our beloved outdoor space during summer 2024.”

The petition urges the town to reconsider its decision and keep the club open until at least the end of the summer season.

“Let’s preserve this vital part of our community’s fabric -- not pave it over.”

But politicians argue parking is desperately needed in the downtown.

Coun. Bob Kwapis, who represents the downtown, called the parking garage “very exciting news.”

“A two-level, modular parking facility could add a minimum of 228 new parking spaces in the P3 (tennis court area) parking location, adding to the current 526 parking spots available in the downtown area,” he posted on Facebook.

“I love the flexibility of this solution. A modular structure can be erected in just a few months, it can expanded or dissembled in the future if needed and the building costs we well as the maintenance costs are much lower than the conventional parking structures.”

Mayor John Taylor also posted about the issue.

“As many of you know, we are building a new state-of-the-art tennis centre with 10 courts, eight of which will be bubbled in the winter, including an expanded clubhouse (in Shining Hill). Construction had begun. Unfortunately, the builder has discovered that the soils need to settle and compact for longer than anticipated and for that reason, the courts will not be ready until the fall of 2024,” he said.

“However, very soon the Postmark Hotel will open, bringing many new guests and employees to the downtown. This will create a big parking shortage that will negatively impact over 100 small businesses. We are in the process of leasing and arranging as much court space as we can for the summer of 2024 to ensure a slightly modified season can occur.”

The town will work with the club to ensure the impact is as minimal as possible, Taylor said.

“Unfortunately, the town was left with the choice as to whether to negatively impact 100 small businesses and/or the tennis club in the form of a modified season,” he said.

“I wish this decision did not have to be made but it had to be made. We still believe there will be a good season in 2024 but more importantly, there will be many amazing seasons ahead and one of the best tennis facilities in York Region.”