MARDEN – Guelph/Eramosa officials held a ribbon cutting here on July 17 to mark the opening of six new beach volleyball courts.
The project cost around $230,000, but was fully funded by Perpetual Motion Sports, an adult recreational sports league.
Founder Dave Kelly said beach volleyball is one of Perpetual Motion Sports’ most popular sports, with 292 teams across different levels this year.
Kelly said he couldn’t find enough courts to meet demand so he first approached the township in late 2023 about constructing more courts on the grounds of the Royal Distributing Athletic Performance Centre in Marden.
After some deliberation, Kelly and the township landed on an agreement earlier this year that has Perpetual Motion Sports paying the final cost in return for free and exclusive use of the courts during specific hours until the end of 2035.
The hours are Sunday to Thursday, 6:30 to 8:30pm, from May to early September.
Jeff Myer, manager of parks and facilities for the township, said the courts are available to rent for $15 per hour.
Myer added the rental fee was more focused at teams or leagues, and if, for example, a family of four showed up and was hitting a ball around, township officials wouldn’t kick them out.
Myer commended contractor Bomar Landscaping for completing the project on a tight deadline.
Mayor Chris White, who noted the six Marden courts are the first beach volleyball courts in the township, said the township “may have to copy some of these over in Rockwood.”
The new courts were immediately put to use on July 17.
