Council vote preserves winter tennis access at Westwood Lake
The City of Nanaimo has moved to keep the indoor tennis bubble near Westwood Lake standing for the coming season, after a special in-camera council meeting on Oct. 14 decided the structure should continue to operate as a public facility under a local non-profit.
The bubble, located on Arbot Road adjacent to Westwood Lake Park, had been slated for removal when the city completed its purchase of the property. The municipality announced the land acquisition on Sept. 16 with the stated intent of expanding the park. The private Westwood Lake Tennis Club, which had been marketing the property for over a year, is set to close its doors on Nov. 1.
City staff will now begin drafting an operating agreement with the Nanaimo and Area Indoor Tennis Society, which will run the facility as a public amenity for at least one year. The decision followed a visible campaign by club members and neighbours who lobbied council to preserve indoor play during the winter months.
- Oct. 14 — council votes to support retaining the bubble;
- Nov. 1 — Westwood Lake Tennis Club slated to close;
- Sept. 16 — city announced purchase of the land to expand Westwood Lake Park.
“The city did actually do a really good job of being adaptive to this situation,”
Those were the words of Whitman Tomusiak, a coach with the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, who said he is relieved and pleasantly surprised by the decision. He added that operation by the non-profit should improve access to indoor tennis over the winter.
Balancing park expansion with community recreation
The outcome reflects a tension many municipalities face when acquiring privately owned recreational land: how to honour broader public space plans while maintaining existing community services. Nanaimo’s stated objective in buying the property is to expand Westwood Lake Park, a long-term plan that could eventually see changes to how the site is used.
For now, however, council’s direction preserves continuity for players, coaches and families who rely on indoor courts during the rainy season. Local coaches and club members had mounted a concerted campaign in recent weeks urging the city to find a solution that didn’t abruptly end the winter program.
What happens next
City staff will negotiate the terms of an operating agreement with the Nanaimo and Area Indoor Tennis Society. That agreement will set out the responsibilities of the non-profit operator and the duration of the public-use arrangement. The Westwood Lake Tennis Club’s closure on Nov. 1 remains on the calendar, after which the new operator is expected to assume programming for the season.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| City announces purchase of land | Sept. 16 |
| Council votes to retain bubble | Oct. 14 |
| Private club closes | Nov. 1 |
The choice to keep the bubble erect also buys time for the city to consult on how best to expand Westwood Lake Park without abruptly eroding existing recreational services. Residents who value open access to courts — from junior players to adults taking part in league play — will be watching the drafting of the operating agreement closely.
This decision underscores how municipal acquisitions can ripple into everyday community life: a plan to enlarge parkland prompted swift public engagement and a council response that prioritises short-term continuity while leaving long-term planning open. For those who use the bubble through the winter months, the immediate result is simple and practical — indoor tennis remains available in Nanaimo.
City staff have indicated they will develop the operating agreement with the non-profit; further details on fees, scheduling and community programming are expected as negotiations proceed.
