Hello,
I am wondering what the rationale is for the Town having a "Tennis Strategy"?  Why not have a have a generic strategy that can be applied to a host of activities? 

Overall, I am disappointed to see millions spent on outdoor tennis courts instead of indoor facilities that can be used year-round.  As far as I can tell, there is no indoor soccer turf planned or a tennis bubble or squash courts. 

Finally, Milton Sports Club’s expansion document has this text: "Squash courts are not recommended, as established through Community Services Master Plan".  What does that mean?  Community Services Master Plan’s public feedback document states: "The Town will be examining the feasibility of a bubble as part of a Tennis Strategy. This may also involve associated squash courts if deemed appropriate".  It would seem to me that since many residents are asking for a squash court, at least investigating it would be appropriate, instead of a vague “not recommended as established” comment. 

Who may I speak with to find out why Milton’s Community Services Masterplan decides that "squash courts are not recommended"?   Thanks.

Zeeshan Hamid
A Disappointed Resident

Honestly, am I wrong to expect a reason I can understand rather than “as established” when the document that “establishes” it says “will be investigated”?  It’s not about squash courts, tennis bubble or indoor soccer turf is okay.  Facilities that can be used throughout the year are better than facilities that can only be used for 4 months.  Facilities that thousands of residents will use are better than facilities that less than 200 people will use. 

Consider this from Milton’s Community Services Masterplan:

• It says: “Involvement in most organized sports (with the most notable exception being soccer) has been declining at the expense of informal and drop-in opportunities which are better able to respond to the time crunch.”
  [Zeeshan’s comment: this favours both soccer and squash]
• Milton has close to two dozen tennis courts.  Milton Sports Centre alone will have 4 ice rinks (I support it because 1) they can be used year-round and 2) can be used for drop-in solo activities)
• Also states: “…a preliminary analysis suggests that there is sufficient demand for an indoor turf facility, particularly given the
  increasing popularity of indoor turf sports and the provision of such facilities in growing municipalities of a similar size.”
• “The Town should refrain from providing any future racquet sport facilities (e.g., squash courts) as these sports are generally not deemed to be core municipal services and are best served by the private sector.”
  [Zeeshan: Why?  Mississauga provides squash court.  And why is tennis part of a “core municipal service”?  Or swimming pool (there are plenty of private pools in gyms)?  Or ice rinks?]
• “The Town should undertake a feasibility study for an indoor turf facility in order to determine the most suitable location and associated costs and operating structure.”
  [Zeeshan: Wouldn’t this be a better us of $3 million?]
• “The Town should develop a tennis strategy in order to determine the required number of facilities (lit and unlit), their location, if an enclosure/bubble is required, etc. Based on the research in this Plan, in order to meet the public demand for tennis courts there will be a need to provide six courts by 2016, with at least three likely required to be available for public use at no charge. New courts would ideally be suited in the Willmott, Scott and/or Harrison Neighbourhoods.”
  [Zeeshan: Why????  Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying not to do tennis courts. I am asking why tennis court or ice rink or swimming pool or BMX / Skateboard park is part of Milton’s core service but racquet sports is not]

I am on the case.