North York Tennis Club in Toronto is enjoying a new automated sprinkler system on its four HarTru clay courts as of May 9, 2009.

 It took a persistant effort by the NYTC executive to have the city Parks and Recreation Department budget for and install a new automated sprinkler system. Several presentations by the CCTO re benefits of clay organized for City management played a positive role in this undertaking.

Designed by the P&R staff in consultation with Lee Tennis experts the six per court Nelson sprinklers deliver consistent spray coverage on the court. The installation was completed in three working days by the D.J.Rain contractors of Toronto. Their magic "Ditch Witch" machine causes minimum damage to court surface requiring just a thorough compaction after irrigation lines are installed. The system is fully automated with several programmes available and a manual override.

Other tennis clubs could use this project as a model as an example for Parks and Recreation and community clay court clubs cooperation.