The Williams Lake City Council directed staff to combine two items into one future report for potential new locations for outdoor facilities in the Lake City.
Council received the report and presentation from the Williams Lake Pickleball Club (WLPC) on looking for a permanent court in the city. Council also combined item ‘F4’ of the Council Meeting’s July 15th Agenda, which looked at the Rotary Club’s desire to develop Comer Park into a dedicated dog park, into a future staff report.
The report is directed to look into and “identify” properties and locations that are suitable, or more suitable, to house a pickleball court [and dog park in Comer Park].
In the last Committee of the Whole Meeting, the WLPC proposed adding four courts to be constructed near a dog park on Western Avenue, across from the Thompson Rivers University campus.
Council and City Staff proposed the idea of a full report to see which areas are suitable for a court, to address potential concerns. Concerns around building pickleball courts are mainly due to the noise from the paddles hitting the balls throughout the day and night. City Staff question if building a court in a residential area is the best option. When the report is completed, the Staff will bring it back to Council, WLPC, and the public to decide.
“I think the intent was clear from Council that we support the Pickleball Club Society,” Councillor Scott Nelson said. Nelson was very on-board with the project of a pickleball court, with it being proposed as a near 25 year partnership with City to build courts.
“We want to find them space. That proposed space may not be the perfect space, but the intent of Council was we wanted to provide some sort of long-term stability.”
Councillor Angie Delainey, in favour of a pickleball court, suggested the report “took an inventory” on what facilities and amenities Williams Lake already provides. Delainey’s concerns was that a court will be built and take away a field or potential space.
The City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Gary Muracam said the report will be designed exactly Delainey’s proposed intent, and that removing a field or park “will never be staff’s recommendation.”
An amendment was made to bring item ‘F4’, the Rotary Club’s proposal to build a dog park at Comer Park, year-round, was attached to the location search for a pickleball court.
Councillor Jazmyn Lyons, as were the other councillors, was in favour of getting a new dog park in Williams Lake. Lyons said, the Rotary Club has spent a few months developping the idea of a new dog park, including how the Club could budget for their own funding for the project. She also says many people are feeling unsafe walking their pets around the dog park in Boitanio Park.
“ I guess there’s an unofficial dog walking club and they[the Rotary Club] actually use that park quite often,” says Lyons. “There’s a lot of people that were very worried, and this is a nice, open, safer feeling spot for them to use versus the dog park that’s actually in Boitanio Park.”
The President of the Pickleball Club was given an opportunity to speak on if she understood the Council’s decision for a report. The president said that she understood the City Council’s intent and support on “finding the right spot for our club to call home.”
The motion, with the amendment, to direct City Staff to report on potential locations was passed unanimously.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
