By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
A new amenity is taking shape on Chatham’s south side.
Spearheaded by real estate developer Phillip Ong, CK Flex Plex will take indoor recreation to the next level.
Located in a warehouse on the former Navistar property, the 37,000 square-foot structure will offer a variety of sporting opportunities – from indoor soccer and volleyball to table tennis.
Ong, who started the Chatham-Kent Recreation League (CKRL) for adult sports two years ago, said creating the space evolved from his experiences renting spots to run the league. Often, Ong said, he was unable to get appropriate sites at appropriate times.
“I want my own space,” Ong said at last week’s official announcement, explaining he liked the idea of consolidating the league in one spot. He ended up speaking with Don Tetrault of the Tatro Group, one of the owners of the property, and the rest is history.
Ong said Tetrault was receptive to the plan.
“We got talking and he liked my idea for a sports complex,” Ong said at the opening. “We just played around with the idea and we came up with this idea.”
Originally from Vietnam, Ong lived in Halifax and Toronto before moving to Chatham-Kent with his young family. A sports buff, he had been travelling to Windsor to play soccer twice a week but found it to be too much. He said that led him to start the CKRL close to home.
Accustomed to playing in indoor spaces in cold weather, Ong said he considered moving but instead decided to create something to “make it better for everyone.”
And, he added, the plan was met with enthusiasm from the Tatro Group and the mayor.
“The mayor and Don have been very helpful,” Ong added. “They helped me push it ahead.”
The current plan includes indoor soccer fields; six indoor volleyball courts; six indoor badminton courts and three half-court basketball courts.
Eventually, the entrepreneur said he’d like to expand, and if all goes well, the future may include outdoor beach volleyball spaces, an outdoor soccer field with artificial turf and possibly a restaurant where people can enjoy food and drink while socializing.
As far as what will be offered, Ong said programming will be tailored to public demand, open to individuals and organizations, including school groups, youth sports and even professionals who want to hone their skills.
He’s hoping coaches will also offer clinics and training.
“Anyone who has an interest can just reach out to us to work out a rental agreement,” Ong said.
Mayor Darrin Canniff, who spoke at the opening, said the CK Flex Plex is the perfect private-public partnership and won’t cost taxpayers a dime. He said the idea for an indoor sporting facility has been on the municipality’s radar for a while and the original idea was to build a dome at the St. Clair College Community Park on Bear Line.
“To actually put this as a business, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the municipality,” Canniff said.
“This is much needed,” he added. ” It’s a super-exciting opportunity for Chatham-Kent. We’ve identified this for years. We need this…the demand is growing for this facility. This is one of those pieces of the puzzle from a recreation perspective that we didn’t have.”
Canniff said the Flex Plex adds to what’s being offered at the new tennis dome that’s being run by Tennis Clubs of Canada.
Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, a long-time advocate for indoor sports, is pleased with the announcement.
“It’s wonderful to see private partners involved in projects like this,” McGregor said. “It brings value to the community and it’s a huge piece of attraction and retention.”
As part of the project, artist Ruth Ann Pearce will be painting a mural on the back wall.
“She saw this place and she loved the idea,” Ong said.
Ong said he hopes to hire 10 employees to help staff the facility.
For more information on the project access www.ckflexplex.com online.
Ong said organizations that book during the first year will be offered a promotion to help the Flex Plex get up and running.
