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SAANICH - If you play tennis in Greater Victoria you won't have any trouble finding a court. A hard court that is, the only kind most of us have ever played on. But maybe that's about to change. Clay could be on the way. The tennis community can't wait. "Love it, lots of sliding around, get a little dirty, you really feel like you're getting into it" says one man out playing Wednesday.

The Cedar Hill Clay Court Tennis Society probably thinks so too. The not-for-profit wants to serve up an eight-court clay facility behind Cedar Hill Rec Centre. It's a softer surface that's easier on the joints and more playable in the rain. "Clay courts are played throughout the world, European exposure to tennis is on clay, and South America, lots of other countries have clay. We just don't see it as much here in North America but we're hoping to change that," says the society's Chris Trenholme.

The society says it will raise more than $1 million for the facility from pre-sold memberships and private lenders. "We'll build it and maintain it ourselves without public dollars," Trenholme adds.
But what about the people who live in the area who would miss the field and the ball diamonds behind the rec centre that will be lost. They're not happy.

One of the biggest problems the community association has with the plan is that public park is becoming an area to be enjoyed only by paying customers. "Park land should not be given to a private organization for its own private use," says the association's Lana Burns.

The tennis society is promising to donate court time for public Saanich rec programs but critics say it adds up to little more than an hour a day - not enough. Not even close. "Find another site. This site already has a lot of stuff on it, one of the only open field areas for children in this area," says Carol Pickup.

The proposal went to an open house last week and you can weigh in at saanich.ca.

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