By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
CK Flex Plex is open for business.
At the grand opening last week, reporters were offered a first-hand look at the recently completed recreational facility on Merrit Avenue.
Located on the former Navistar property, the sparkling clean 3,440 square-metre (37,000 sq.-ft.) facility is home to several courts for racket sports, an indoor soccer field, office space with a kitchen area and change rooms.
Owner Phillip Ong, a sports enthusiast who spearheaded the Chatham-Kent Recreation League two years ago, said he is just trying to “improve the community I live in.”
After moving to Chatham-Kent in 2023, the real estate developer said he noticed there was a “lack” of amenities for the things he wanted to do, and the idea was born.
Ong thanked Mayor Darrin Canniff, municipal staff and Don Tetrault of the Tatro Group helping make it happen.
“You gave us a lot of support in this,” Ong said. “Don happened to have the space available and the timing was right so here we are. It’s beautiful and we are very proud of what we’ve built here.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Chatham here.”
Conversion of the space from empty warehouse, owned by the Tatro Group, to recreational amenity happened quickly. According to Tetrault, all of the work, including installing special flooring and indoor turf, was completed in just two months’ time.
According to Ong, interest in the Flex Plex has been strong so far. A couple of tournaments, one for volleyball and one for soccer, have already taken place and more are on the way.
“We have a lot of bookings from the soccer association and we have a few interested in pickleball,” he said, noting the Flex Plex is home to C-K’s first indoor soccer league for women and the first 30-plus adult league.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the facility is a great addition to Chatham-Kent.
“I’m so proud that Phillip, the owner, has stepped up here and recognized the need in the market and is filling it,” Canniff said. “You look around and he’s spent a lot of money putting this in place. We’re looking forward to our community engaging with this. It’s one more piece of the recreational puzzle here in Chatham-Kent.”
In the future, Ong said the Flex Plex may expand outdoors to include outdoor soccer, volleyball and maybe a bar/restaurant area.
If interested in learning more about CK Flex Plex, access ckflexplex.com.
