Landscape Refresh Proposal

Tennis season is now in full swing and we could not be more excited to see the courts filling up with life again. Thank you to every member who makes this club what it is — your energy on and off the court is what drives everything we do. It's with that spirit in mind that the Committee is proud to share this vision for the grounds we all call home.

Overview

Executive Summary

The Rothesay Tennis Club has served as a cornerstone of athletic and social life in the Kennebecasis Valley for over a century. As the facility enters its next chapter, the grounds require a comprehensive landscape refresh to match the quality of the Club's courts, programming, and membership experience.

This proposal outlines a landscape renewal plan organized into two priority tiers — Must Have and Should Have — covering pathways, lighting, spectator amenities, social gathering spaces, garden areas, and parking improvements. The membership will have the opportunity to vote on which elements to include, and the final scope will be shaped by that input.

Following membership and Board approval in the summer of 2026 and design through the fall, construction begins in late 2026. Site work and hardscaping carry through the winter, with planting and soft-scaping completing in the spring — final completion is targeted for June 2027.

Section 2

Project Vision

The landscape refresh is guided by three core principles:

Preserve character. Retain the mature trees, heritage charm, and welcoming atmosphere that define the Club. Support competitive play. Improve spectator seating, lighting, and amenities so the Club is better equipped to host tournaments and inter-club events. Build for longevity. Use durable, low-maintenance materials and plantings that reduce long-term operating costs and age gracefully.

Conceptual vision of the refreshed grounds at sunset — fire pit, hedgerow, pathway lighting, and spectator areas.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

Section 3

Current Conditions

The Committee has conducted a detailed walk-through assessment of the property, documenting areas where infrastructure is aging, underperforming, or misaligned with the Club's long-term vision.

Key concerns include cracked and uneven pathways, inadequate lighting along spectator corridors, limited social gathering space, and a rear garden that has become overgrown and underutilized. The existing driveway configuration presents a safety concern, with vehicle traffic passing in close proximity to areas where children and members congregate on foot. The current parking arrangement also creates headlight intrusion on the courts during evening play.

Section 4

Scope of Work

Scope items have been organized into two priority tiers to guide phasing and investment decisions.

A.1

Premium Artificial Landscaping Grass — Front Lawn / Gathering Area

A new premium artificial landscaping grass surface (1,522 sf) will be installed in the upper grounds area, providing a durable, all-weather front lawn and gathering space for members. This new surface replaces the existing upper parking lot, eliminating headlight intrusion onto the courts during evening play.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.2

Pathway Lighting

A comprehensive low-voltage LED landscape lighting system will be installed along all primary pathways, the spectator corridor, and key gathering areas. Fixtures will include bollard-style path lights, recessed step lights at grade changes, and accent uplighting on feature plantings and trees. The system will operate on automatic timers with seasonal adjustment.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.3

Site Work — Hardscaping & Softscaping Areas

Site preparation, excavation, and grading across all hardscaping and softscaping areas (13,603 sf), including subbase work for stone surfaces, deck foundations, and planting bed preparation.

A.4

New Steps & Handrails to Outdoor Terrace / Rear Garden Beds

New steps with integrated handrails providing direct access to the outdoor terrace, installed at key grade changes to improve safety and accessibility across the grounds.

The existing rear garden will be fully removed and replaced with new perennial beds, ornamental grasses, and flowering shrubs (480 sf) selected for four-season interest and low maintenance.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.5

Hardscaping — Decks & Pathways

New hardscaped decks and pathways around the clubhouse and grounds. Materials will be selected for durability and to complement the existing clubhouse architecture.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.6

Hardscaping — Terraces & Gathering Areas

New hardscaped terraces and gathering areas around the clubhouse and grounds. Together with the decks and pathways, these surfaces total 4,667 sf. Materials will be selected for durability and to complement the existing clubhouse architecture.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.7

Grass / Sod — Lawn Areas

All lawn areas (7,592 sf) will be re-sodded with a robust sod product, including the area currently occupied by the upper driveway which will be converted to green space.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.8

Bleachers north of Court 1

New bleacher seating will be installed north of Court 1, providing additional spectator capacity. Access to the proposed new bleacher area will be evaluated during detailed design.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

A.9

Hedge / Fence — East Property Line / Fire Pit

A 166 linear foot hedge or fence along the East property line adjacent to the premium artificial landscaping grass area, providing privacy screening and a defined boundary.

A built fire pit with a natural stone or brick surround will be installed on the front lawn / gathering area, creating a central gathering point for post-match socializing and club events.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

B.1

Warm-Up Area

A dedicated warm-up and stretching area adjacent to the courts, designed for pre-match preparation and casual use.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

B.2

Storage Shed

A new dedicated storage facility will be constructed to house court maintenance equipment, event supplies, and seasonal items.

B.3

Outdoor Furniture

New outdoor furniture and furnishings for spectator areas, the rear terrace, and social gathering spaces.

B.4

Garbage Enclosure

A screened enclosure for garbage and recycling bins, keeping waste storage tidy, contained, and out of sight from the courts and gathering areas.

Preliminary rendering for illustrative purposes only — not a final drawing or plan. Further design refinement to be completed after the broader initiative is voted on and approved.

Section 5

Project Schedule

This schedule maps the project’s full path from approvals through completion (2026–2027). Landscape-architect tendering and the board presentation run through May and June, with the membership vote and project financing following in early summer. Preliminary design and town coordination on parking access take place over the summer, formal IFP drawings into the fall, and contractor tendering in November. Construction then runs from late 2026 into spring 2027 — procurement, site work, hardscaping, and soft-scaping — with a 10% schedule contingency and final completion targeted for June 2027. Permit acquisition from the Town is carried as a flagged schedule risk — approval timelines could affect the start of construction and are being confirmed early.

Section 6

Budget Summary

Cost estimates are built up line by line from detailed area, linear-foot, and unit takeoffs at current market rates, organized by priority tier.

Depending on the Club's appetite to invest in infrastructure, the additional cost to each membership is a flat annual assessment ranging from approximately $270 per year for the Must Have scope to $335 per year if the full scope is included. This assessment stays the same each year for the 10-year loan term and then ends — it does not increase or accumulate. That's roughly $23 to $28 a month.

Section 7.1

Memorial and Dedication Program

The Committee recommends establishing a Memorial and Dedication Program that allows members and families to honour loved ones through named elements within the landscape. Contributions offset project costs while creating lasting, personal connections to the Club grounds.

As an illustration, 30 pathway stones, 20 garden plaques, 10 bench dedications, and 4 fire pit or hedge dedications would raise approximately $37,500. A single pavilion naming gift could bring the total to $50,000–$60,000 or more. If contributions exceed the base scope, surplus funds would be directed toward a future addition: a bubbling water feature with names inscribed on natural stone, creating a centrepiece for quiet reflection within the rear garden.

Section 7.2

Design & Validation Partners

The Committee has requested design proposals from established landscape architecture firms with deep roots in New Brunswick, and project costs have been independently validated by a local pre-construction specialist. After reviewing submissions, the Committee is recommending Brackish Design Studio based on their close proximity to the Club, their expressed interest in becoming Club members, and the strength of their experience, credentials, and body of work across Atlantic Canada.

Section 8

Next Steps

The Board respectfully requests that the membership review this proposal and provide direction. The following resolution will be presented for a vote:

The project follows the timeline below, from approvals through completion:

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