City says soil remediation and weather have delayed the long-awaited indoor tennis facility at Mission Recreation Park.
Kelowna tennis enthusiasts will have to wait nearly a year longer than expected for new courts to open at Mission Recreation Park.
Originally announced in June, the Rogers Tennis Dome project will feature five courts covered by an air-supported dome during the winter months, the city’s first year-round indoor tennis facility. The courts were initially set to open in November 2025, but the timeline has now been pushed back.
“The building permit has been approved, with construction expected to begin within the next couple of weeks,” said Doug Nicholas, sport and event services manager with the City of Kelowna. “The progress of this project remains closely tied to soil remediation efforts and weather conditions.”
According to the city and Tennis Clubs of Canada, a private partner in the project, the dome will not be installed until October 2026.
“However, all excavation work, including soil remediation, along with the installation of the grade beam and earth tubes, is scheduled to be completed this winter,” Nicholas added. “Construction will pause in mid-December and resume in March 2026.”
The courts are now anticipated to be ready for use by May 1, 2026, with the dome installation set for Oct. 1.
The delay comes amid growing frustration among local players, who recently lost six public courts at Parkinson Recreation Park due to the construction of the new recreation centre. Those courts will be replaced with four new ones, but not until spring 2027.
As it stands, just 13 public courts remain open in the city, and only four are equipped with lights.
While city officials maintain the overall tennis strategy will deliver more sustainable, higher-quality facilities in the long run, players argue that short-term access is worsening.
Some residents have expressed concern over the loss of courts and questioned whether the city’s Kelowna Tennis Strategy, adopted earlier this year, adequately addresses short-term access.
City staff have emphasized that the Kelowna Tennis Strategy aims to balance the growing demand with financial feasibility and facility quality. It calls for the creation of regional “hub” locations rather than maintaining smaller, aging sites spread across the city.
In addition to the Rogers Tennis Dome, the city’s long-term plan envisions new courts in multiple neighbourhoods, enhanced lighting at existing facilities, and improved accessibility.
Still, with a nearly two-year gap between the closure of the Parkinson courts and the opening of the new dome, players say the city risks losing participation momentum, particularly among juniors and new players introduced to the sport during the pandemic.
Once completed, the new dome will provide year-round access for recreation, tournaments, and training, but until then, players will have to adjust to fewer available courts across the city.