The Elliot Lake Tennis Club, in conjunction with the local Pickleball Club, received a $15,000 grant from Elliot Lake Retirement Living.
The money is part of as part of some $40,000 in grants it handed out in 2021 as part of its annual grant program.
The official presentation was delayed by pandemic restrictions and was held today at the tennis courts.
In 2021 the retirement living committee received more than $60,000 in grant requests for a wide range of projects and services finalizing them to 11 groups sharing the total of $40,000 given out last year.
“We continue to be very encouraged by the groups and organizations that are engaging in some very creative and positive projects within our community,” a news release stated. “These projects add so much to the community and make this a place where people want to live and engage in.”
Tennis club president Paul Torrance said the money will go toward fixing up the clubhouse and doing repairs to a third court used largely for pickleball and the 20 members who primarily play the sport. The club has slightly more than 70 members.
Since it was originally created in the late 1950s, the tennis club has done work to improve the facility with no direct assistance from the city which owns the property. That work includes building the third tennis pad.
“We have never tapped the city for money,” club vice president George Farkouh said. “We’re happy to be independent.”
Retired Dr. David Cavanaugh, who heads up the pickleball group, said he anticipates growing its membership based on the sport’s growing popularity in North America.
Elliot Lake Retirement Living is currently taking applications for the 2022 community grant program and welcomes everyone to click here for more information on how to apply. The application deadline is May 13.