A set l tennis courts at the Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital, which has been unused for 10 to 15 years, is coming to life again. Last November, the Canar1 Progress Club, Toro. Central Branch, decide; to take on the rebuilding of the tennis courts as a service project, and weather permitting, the courts should be ready for use this week. 'The club has undertaken the reconstruction of the courts, providing both funds Survey is town to d and labor for the $15,000 project. In August, the club inembers removed a fence a nd sprayed the weeds which had grown over the site. The Progress club hired contrac- tors to remove 300 to 400 tons of material from the site, and backfill the area with granular material. Two of thë four courts have been covered with two inches of asphault, and the other two with limestone screenings, to be paved over held by Ieterniine the need for a new fitness centre At the inaugural meeting of council this year, Council- lor Bob Attersley said he wanted to see a fitness cêntée built at Iroquois Park. During the month of September the Whitby Recreation Department is conducting a study to see if such a facility is needed and would be used by the public. The survey is being under- taken by Peter Bernard and Associates, of Toronto, and is designed also to see if Whitby's recreational facilities are comparable to facilities in neighboring municipalities and municipalities with a similar population. Phase one of the study was expected to be completed by Sept. 11. This phase consisted of a research program to examine the availability of existing facilities in Whitby and the surrounding area, and obtain indications as to how much tiey are used. Interviews were conducted in Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering and Newcastle, where recreationalfacilities are probably shared. The interviews were held with parks and recreation directors, and community agencies such as the YMCA,/ YWCA, community centres, clubs and schools. Phase two of the study involves interview's with recreation directors in other communites, divided into two categories. The firstcategory includes municipalities the same size as Whitby, (25,000 to 30,000 people). Those being studied are Newcastle, Pickering, Stoney Creek, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Stratford and Newmarket. The second category includes communities that are the size Whitby is likely to become in the next 1o0to 15 years (40,000 to 50,000 population). Those being studied are Brantford (67,000) and Peterborough (60,500) whose population figures may be reached in Whitby by 1985, says Recrea- tion Director Wayne DeVeau. The recreation directors are asked such questions as what services they provide and to what age groups, what facilities they offer, whether they have any competition, what services are lacking and why, the effect of sharing facilities, the extend of future recreation plans, major growth trends in the community, adequacy of facilities for population, and opinions on community centres. Recreation organizations and associations in Whitby which might use the proposed fitness centre are being contacted to explore the demand for future facilities. Also nearing completion is a phone survey pf 300 to 400 Whitby residents picked at random from all parts of the town. The survey lists a number of reçêeational activities and asks if the residents -have participated in them at least once in the past 12 months, or if they would in the future. They are also being asked if they have difficulty getting into existing facilities for sports and recreation, and where they go. Also, the residents are being asked what sports they would participate in and how often if there was a fitness centre at Iroquois Park, and if they think a fitness centre for Irqouois Park is a good idea. Mr. DeVeau said he has received a very positive responce to the survey and hopes to report on its results to council by the end of September. in the future. The four tennis courts will b- used by patients from spring to fall as a therâ- peutic recreation area where a variety of sports can be played, including tennis, volleyball, shuffleboard, floor hockey and basketball. The Canadian Progress Club, an all-Canadian service club with 34 branches across the country, has done- other work for the Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital during the past year. Last.spring the members played a baseball game with hospital patients, and for some time they have helped by serving coffee and providing music at a hospital drop-in centre on the grounds. Club provides tennis courts Members of the staff of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital and the Canadian Progress Clu Toronto Central Branch, are all ready to play tennis, as soon as the courts at the hospital a e refurbished. From left to right are: Progress Club President Jack Rennie, Assistant Hospital Administrator Larry Chapin, Volunteer Co-ordinator Alayne Metrick, and Progress Club Past-President Russ Daigle. The Toronto Central Branch of the Canadian Progress Club has donated the time and money required to rebuilt the hospital's tennis courts, which have been abandoned for more than 10 years. Free Press Photo WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4,1978, PAG 19 4K,. BROCK THEATRE 668-3618 CHILDRENS' MATINEE SATURDAY ONLY 1:30 P.M. ALL SEATS $1.00 "RACE FOR YOUR LIFE CHARLIE BROWN" HELD OVER! EVENINGS PLUS SUN. & MON. MAT. ADULT ENT. THU RS. 7:30 P.M. FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9 P.M. - SUN. 1:30, 7 & 9 P.M. MON. 1:30 & 7:30 P.M. TUES. 7:30 P.M