Ramsden Park Court Changes

Jason Gomes
Project Manager
City of Toronto

Copies to: Councillor Dianne Saxe, Andrew Greene

Re: Ramsden Park – Court Changes

Dear Jason,

We are writing to you as your name is listed on the City’s webpage as the contact for the “City-Wide Tennis & Pickleball Court Improvements” initiative and would appreciate your response.

We represent the ABC Residents Association, a volunteer organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in our neighbourhood in the Yorkville/North Midtown community. Our area includes Ramsden Park and we have been actively involved in consultation and planning processes for the park for decades.

We have concerns about the two signs shown below that were installed recently on the fences of Ramsden’s western tennis courts. The first announcing a feedback process regarding tennis and pickleball usage of the Ramsden courts, and the second outlining court usage protocols that contemplate a paid membership-based tennis club.

While we welcome improvements to the Ramsden courts and their maintenance, ABCRA opposes the model of a private members club. The courts have been a popular and inclusive free amenity for decades. They are frequented by thousands of users including area residents and players from across Toronto due to their location and accessibility. The ABCRA Board supports continued open, equitable, public access for these courts as the best way to preserve their availability and tremendous success.

We have the following additional comments regarding the City’s intentions for the Ramsden courts.

  1. Feedback process. The timing of the feedback process is problematic. Posting signs in mid- November, after the courts are no longer actively used, minimizes community awareness and the opportunity for input. As well, while consultation with tennis and pickleball advisory groups is valuable, it is insufficient. The City must also engage with residents’ associations like ABCRA and provide reasonable notice next spring to gather feedback from actual court users during the active season.
  2. Court usage. In addition to appearing arbitrary, the reference on the signs to ‘club’ arrangements is pre-mature until the community consultations have occurred. It is not clear why the rush to post these signs and their implied decisions.
  3. Ramsden dry pad. The City’s signs have not been posted on the Ramsden dry pad (home to two ice rinks in winter). At one point this pad was used as additional tennis courts. In the past two years the area has hosted pickleball. Presumably these courts are also in scope for consultations, including relating to pickleball.

We have provided some further relevant background information below.

We look forward to hearing from you about our comments as well as being involved in the consultations as the residents’ association for the area. We can provide valuable insights based on our community involvement and firsthand observations of Ramsden Park’s usage.

Sincerely,

The ABC Residents Association,
Ian Carmichael and John Caliendo,
Co-Chairs

Additional background about the Ramsden Park courts

  • A decision to keep the courts open-access was deliberately made as recently as 2017 as part of the major Ramsden Park revitalization project.
  • Pickleball permits were introduced in the past two years for the Ramsden dry pad/ice rink area. In the first year, a for-profit private club purchased all the permits, making it impossible for the community to use the dry pad. This year, with the removal of the private club, community use of the dry pad increased and included both pickleball and other community-based activities.
  • The community already has an abundance of membership-based and private clubs/courts in close proximity to Ramsden Park: Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, York Racquets, Cottingham Tennis Club, Badminton & Racquet Club, The Queen’s Club, and Fairgrounds Public Racket Club. And two clubs located in nearby public parks: Sir Winston Churchill Park and Rosedale Park.
Feedback/Survey process sign posted at Ramsden Park in mid-November 2024
Feedback/Survey process – Signs posted mid-November 2024
Court usage protocols – Signs posted early December 2024

Tennis racquet & balls photo: Vladsinger at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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