Council votes to retain tennis bubble as part of new land acquisition

STATEMENT - Distributed October 20, 2026 10:00 AM

At its Special In Camera Meeting on October 14, 2026, Nanaimo City Council voted to support retaining the tennis bubble at 2367 Arbot Road and directed staff to work with a non-profit operator on a Licence of Use Agreement for the future operation of the facility.

City staff will now begin developing a comprehensive operating agreement that will be cost-neutral to the City while supporting continued public access to indoor tennis in Nanaimo.

The Westwood Tennis Club will cease operations on Nov. 1, 2026 and the City is scheduled to take ownership of the property on Dec.18, 2026. During the period between the Club's closure and the City's acquisition of the property, the tennis bubble and outdoor courts will not be available for public, member or any use. This transition period will allow the current owners to complete their move from the property before ownership transfers to the City.

Public access to the tennis bubble would resume once the City and a non-profit operator have an approved agreement in place, and the facility is ready for operation. City staff hope to have an agreement in place as soon as possible following the City taking over the property.

Council's direction is for the non-profit operator to be responsible for the facility's ongoing operating, maintenance and capital costs, and for provisions requiring a portion of court time to be available for public booking to ensure the facility provides broader community access.

The City announced the purchase of the 2.85-acre (1.15-hectare) parcel at 2367 Arbot Road on Sept. 16, 2026, with the intention of expanding access to Westwood Lake Park and creating new opportunities for recreation, public access and future community amenities. The City plans to engage the community on potential future uses of the property and how it may best be integrated into Westwood Lake Park.

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