Court Sports Fever Still Spreading In Sharbot Lake

Jeff Green | May 05, 2021

For years, the derelict tennis and basketball courts at the former Sharbot Lake Public School have been languishing. But now, weeks after a volunteer group began work on them, they are neat and tidy and ready for an upgrade.

As soon as this weekend, weather permitting, a company from Kingston will be on site repairing and resealing the asphalt, and will return later to paint lines for tennis, pickleball, badminton and basketball. Fundraising efforts for the infrastructure work, as well as nets and other equipment, have had early success. At this point, thanks in part to a donation and challenge from 1010 Garden Centre (a $1010 donation) other businesses have stepped up, including the Sharbot Lake General Store and PetroCan which has ponied up another $1,000.

“We have raised $4,500 so far,” said Frank Girard, a former principal at Sharbot Lake Public School, who is handling much of the infrastructure work for the project.

In addition to the equipment, the group is hoping to purchase fabric to cover at least the south facing fence around the court, as a windbreak.

The former school site is slated to be used for a municipal project, likely a seniors’ housing complex, within the next few years, and the group has its eyes on another site in Sharbot Lake, near Granite Ridge Education Centre. Most of the money that is being raised for the project is going towards equipment that can be used at a new site.

“The public enthusiasm for the project is not based on something a few years down the road,” said Sharbot Lake Pickleball Association President Sandy Robertson. “People want to get out this summer, they want to be out playing now.”

Scheduling the multi-use space will likely be handled by a sports scheduling app that organisers are looking at signing on to. There is likely to be a cost for participants to use the space, to cover the cost of the app and some other ongoing expenses, but it will be a nominal fee.

The project is being supported by the Central Frontenac District 3 (Oso) Recreation Committee, and as such all donations will be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

Contributions should be made out to the Township of Central Frontenac with OSO Rec Committee – Pickleball written in the memo area.