Dear Sean Nailer,

I would like to express my disappointment in the whole process and expense of this project at a time when the city budgets are struggling with shortfalls in numerous areas. As a property owner, tax payer and resident of this city I am concerned with the unprecedented tax increase for the 2024 property taxes and again with shortfalls for the proposed budget for 2025. Following the budget discussion it looks as if property owners are going to face another tax increase of 5 to 10 percent.

The redevelopment appears to be a pickleball club paid for with our taxes at a time where fiscal responsibility to the tax base is needed. Affordable housing is at an all time low and infrastructure is in serious need of repair. How can we justify the expenditure on this vanity project for a pickleball interest group. Why are we developing a pickleball club for the Ontario Pickleball Association with an unprecedented 14 courts. A simple search shows that there are no public locations in Ontario with this many courts. I ask you the question. Are we building a tournament space for the Ontario Pickleball Association?

If that is the end goal of this redevelopment then shame on you, your department and the city administration. Let the Ontario Pickleball Association build their own pickleball tournament club at the expense of their members someplace other than our public parks. A few courts would be sufficient for the use of the public.

I would also say that if any of our Councilors are members of the Ontario Pickleball Association or the Peterborough Pickleball Association and did not recuse themselves from voting on this project then shame on them too.

Regards,

David Horwood

PTBO resident and property tax payer.