Milton has an explicit tennis strategy. There are currently 20 municipal tennis courts in Milton, more under planning. Yet Milton has an explicit policy against building squash courts. That’s partly why you will not see any squash courts added to the Milton Sports Centre as part of its $35 million expansion.

Milton’s opposition for building a squash court is simple: the town does not consider it a ‘core municipal service’. I totally get that, but I don’t see how tennis courts, ice rinks, gyms, skateboard parks etc are ‘core municipal services’.

For various reasons (ability to play year-round, insanely good exercise [much better than tennis], ability to play alone, wallyball , easy to do it casually for drop-ins, etc etc) I am hoping to convince the town to drop its opposition for squash courts.

I am writing a letter that I hope others will sign as well. If you’re interested in signing it then please e-mail me or leave me a comment.  I’ll bring the letter to you. Check it out and sign it if you’re interested. I should’ve done it when the farmer’s market was on but hey, even a few signatures should help (just need to show that I am not the only one interested in squash).  Please only respond if you currently actively play squash or stopped playing because of lack of facilities in Milton and would like to restart.

The town finally updated actions it took on feedback received on the Milton Sports Club expansion plan.  Here is a quote from it :-

Squash courts are not recommended, as established through Community Services Master Plan.

I would have thought in the Canadian climate indoor squash courts (can be used year-round) would be better than outdoor tennis courts.  I would be wrong since the town disagrees by spending millions on outdoor tennis courts as part of its Community Services Master plan and tennis strategy (yes, the town has a tennis strategy).   I suppose I should mention that 2/3rd of the $3 million it’s spending on the Nassgweya Tennis Club is coming from Federal and Provincial governments (although I am sure they would have given money for an indoor soccer turf just the same). 

I would pick up tennis but what good would it do in winter?

(Apparently I wasn’t the only one who wanted it, since someone asked for it in the public workshop as well. I did not attend that).  It shouldn’t be too much to ask for activities that do not require a team and can be done year round. 

This post is about to enter a ‘rant’ mode, so I will stop now.