The Municipal District of Opportunity council in Wabasca, Alberta approved a $300,000 capital budget increase on September 14 to salvage a stalled tennis court upgrade after contractors refused to proceed without extensive base repairs. The decision marks a dramatic jump from the $38,720 originally allocated for the project earlier in 2026.
Why did the project stall?
The tennis court upgrade was originally designed as a two-stage project, with engineering estimates from Milestone Engineering Services Ltd. identifying an $82,000 asphalt overlay to repair cracks and sunken areas, followed by $38,720 in acrylic surfacing and line painting by Tomko Sports Systems. During winter budget cuts, council approved only the resurfacing portion and rejected the asphalt work.
When recreation staff attempted to hire a contractor for the resurfacing, every company approached declined the job. Contractors warned that applying acrylic coatings over crumbling, cracked asphalt would fail almost immediately and refused to guarantee or warrant work performed on an inadequate foundation.
What changed to unlock funding?
Director of Recreation and Culture Angela Lightning requested an additional $100,000 from municipal reserves to fund the asphalt overlay and break the administrative deadlock. The council's approval brings the total tennis court budget to $139,000 and addresses the hidden costs of partial infrastructure approvals that can derail projects entirely.
Sources
- Metroland Media: Wabasca tennis court and park budget surges to $300,000. Published 2026-09-30.
Reported from public sources.