Racquet Sports enthusiasts enjoy new look at Racquets Centre thanks to $21,749 contribution from Port Community Investment Fund

A local racquet player takes to the newly renovated courts at
the Prince Rupert Racquets Centre
(photo from PRPA)

The rallies and smashes are in full view of the public now at the Prince Rupert Racquets Centre, after the local racquet sports facility received some helpful funding for renovations from the Prince Rupert Port Authority's Community Investment Fund.

Half of the total 43,498 dollar cost of the project was covered off by the Port's Fund, helping put in place the upgrade which included the installation of new safety-glass walls and doors at the rear of both squash courts. 

These new floor-to-ceiling windows replace the original solid walls, creating an unobstructed view of the action on the courts from the lower level. 

The facility has been a fixture in the community since the early 1980's, with interest in racquet sports ebbing and flowing as the population of the city did the same. 

Squash is now the game of note for the city, with local and visiting players making use of the only international sized courts available year round in the region.

As part of an announcement to celebrate the new look, Richard Haley, Director of the Prince Rupert Racquet Association noted how he looks forward for more residents of the area to drop in and test out the sport.

“The new glass transforms the space, giving it an open feeling that creates a whole new appeal. We regularly rent our facility for special events and now with these enhancements we can expose every visitor who sets foot in the Racquet Centre to the game of squash, hopefully encouraging more people to try it.”

That was a sentiment shared by Prince Rupert Port Authority President Shaun Stevenson, who observed on the importance of recreation for the community and how the Port enjoys contributing to the community's recreation needs.

“Our city’s indoor recreation facilities are vitally important and we are pleased to be able to help the Prince Rupert Racquets Association improve the look and overall function of their space to make it more appealing to new and existing users alike. We also commend the volunteers here on their efforts to promote and support another opportunity for participation in our community—we hope that everybody takes the opportunity to check it out and try it out.”

Included in today's statement announcing the completion of the project, which is phase two of the Racquet Associations larger development plan for the facility, was a video that provides a tour of the new look and a snapshot of the plans in place.

In June of last year we featured some of the plans ahead for the Ninth Avenue West facility adjacent to the Golf Course, which is when the potential partnership with the Port Authority was first made mention of.

With the progress made on the wall remediation work, the Association can now turn its attention to some of the other items on the impressive To-do list.

More items of note related to past Prince Rupert Port Authority Community Investments can be explored here.