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Letter: Bring tennis back to Olds

Use the Summer Games money for what it was intended
opinion

Re:  County's Summer Games dispersal request granted

I note that at the time of the Summer Games in 1983, Olds had many tennis courts -- two courts on the water reservoir and at least three east of the high school in Olds.The college had no buildings beside the courts and the lights were available when needed almost anytime.

Unfortunately the college shared the courts with basketball so quite often the courts were not available for tennis. A backboard was available at the college for one single person to play off the wall. When the residences were built around the courts, tennis became a neglected sport as well.

With the reservoir neglected and the Ford facility built where the high school courts were located, tennis died in Olds.

Still, there are many in Olds who care for the game. I attended the Innisfail courts this past spring and on the court was a gentleman from Sundre and one from Olds. None of the three including myself were residents of Innisfail. Congratulations to Innisfail for your lovely set up! 

In Red Deer, straight north of the college at 57th Avenue and 38th Street is the ideal set up for tennis. In the winter the courts are used for hockey and skating. In Red Deer they have a rink shack tennis court building.

In Olds, we have many fine parks where skating rinks could be located and switched to tennis in the summer. The secret of a good court is locating it in an area where your children are relatively close to home. Trees to cut the wind are necessary.

Where the water park is located in Olds was a skating rink which was used by all in Olds. Walking around that rink in the springtime I picked up 37 hockey pucks. Yes, the rink was lighted and had two rest benches. It was our treasure. I threw the pucks back into the snow around the rink where the kids could have the thrill of finding them as I had enjoyed.

We want our children to have this opportunity to use the Summer Games money for what it was intended. We don't need a high priced recreation poobah but only a couple or three people to travel to Red Deer and Innisfail to see how it is done. We have several very suitable sites in Olds.

Dennis Combs,

Olds

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