Cramahe to take over bowling club

Cramahe Township has agreed to buy the property which housed the now-defunct Colborne Lawn Bowling Club. Cramahe Council approved the $2 purchase at a special June 30 meeting of council.

The decision was in response to a letter written to the township by Gladys Bell, Secretary Treasurer of the club. In it Mrs. Bell explained that the club had folded on June 10 due to lack of members, lack of money and no volunteers for an executive.

In the 2000 agreement between the 63-year-old Elgin Street club and the township, the club agreed to sell the land back to the township for $2 if it ever folded.
Cramahe Community Services Director, Dan O’Brien, has been considering the options for the property and is proposing the lawn be converted to grass tennis courts.

There has been considerable enthusiasm in the community regarding the prospect.
In an earlier posting in Cramahe Now Mr. O'Brien confirmed he had talked with former Colborne Tennis Club instructor, Marie Lachner about the concept of grass tennis courts.

In order to care for the law properly, the township needs to purchase a mower which will cut the bent grass. Council agreed to allow the director to spend up to $2,000 for a used model.

In discussions with council on June 30, Mr. O’Brien spoke enthusiastically about the property. The lawns are watered by an underground system. The clubhouse is in excellent condition with great washrooms and a relatively new roof. It could be used for other functions as well.

Mr. O’Brien is waiting for a response from members of the Brighton Tennis Club regarding the future needs for tennis in Colborne. He expects the two grass courts will be a big draw to the community.

The township already has on staff a trained and qualified turf specialist, Keeley Biron. The bent gras lawn is structured perfectly for tennis.

If the grass courts are created they will combine with two renovated hardtop courts. Work on the renovation is estimated to cost about $50,000. The grass courts, if they are built, will be unique to this area and probably to Northumberland County. Grass is easier on the legs and knees - a boon to older players.

Last week, Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi and MP Rick Norlock announced that Cramahe will get $33,332 for hardtop court repair at Elgin Street The grant falls under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario (RInC Ontario).