Guelph/Eramosa resident questions need for pickleball courts

BRUCEDALE – Guelph/Eramosa council has doubled down on its decision to construct new outdoor pickleball courts at Rockmosa and Marden parks after a resident suggested the courts are not necessary.

The courts were approved during a June 22 council meeting at a cost of approximately $793,000 excluding HST.

This is down from the original estimated cost of $1,243,809 presented to council on June 8. 

“It [pickleball] is a very popular sport,” said parks and facilities manager Jeff Myer.

“I don’t think we have to hide that fact ... it really is emerging as one of the most popular sports around.”

Myer told the Advertiser the township has “very limited” pickleball space that is only accessible during certain days and times.

Currently, pickleball is offered on select days at Rockmosa Park, as one of the tennis courts also has pickleball lines, at local schools after hours and at the Rockmosa Community Centre during spring, autumn and winter months.

The pickleball court painted on the tennis courts at Rockmosa Park is only available at select times as staff have to set up the proper pickleball nets and switch out tennis nets. 

“We have a very limited amount of time and availability to actually use outdoor courts,” said Myer. 

Resident Ian MacDonald of Rockwood, citing the township’s 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, questioned whether or not there is actually a need for the courts.

“If we look at the November 2023 GET Parks and Recreation plan we see that 6 per cent of the 372 respondents, that’s 22 people, participated in the sport,” stated MacDonald in a July 2 email to council. 

In his correspondence, MacDonald attached a series of photos depicting empty tennis courts on various days. 

Mayor Chris White said this could be due to many factors, such as recent high temperatures and the fact that pickleball was not scheduled for those days.

White said while he appreciates the concern and applauds residents for “keeping an eye on council spending,” he is confident council is making the right decision because “when pickleball is scheduled ... they’re booked.” 

White added that despite the Parks and Recreation Master Plan results, the sport of pickleball has enjoyed a boom in popularity since then, with residents approaching council members at events and in public to ask about designated courts.

“There’s a lot of push for pickleball around and so the Parks and Recreation Master Plan may have had a small number (of pickleball supporters), but that plan doesn’t always encompass everybody,” said White.