Pickleball players may eventually have a place to call home.
On Thursday, the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee tentatively dedicated space at Marshall Field for pickleball courts.
“Planning will now start,” sad Juliette Cunningham, chairperson.
It’s proposed that 12 courts could be constructed adjacent to the indoor soccer centre.
However, some challenges exist with the site, and particularly the need for additional parking if pickleball moves ahead.
It’s possible the lines could be added to the existing gravel lot at the west end of Marshall Field to create formal spaces instead of constructing a new parking lot.
“It would be nice to look at efficiency instead of encroaching on greenspace,” said Cunningham.
The other issue to consider is how an additional sport would impact overall activities at Marshall, where baseball, tennis and soccer are already played.
“We’d be built out and bursting at the seams,” said Keith Pinkoski, parks manager.
“Flat, programmed space is difficult to find. We don’t want to displace anyone else.”
Developing 12 pickleball courts could cost about $620,000, and that could climb if a roof is added in the future.
“We will go to work and do our best to raise funds,” said Don Friesen, spokesperson for the pickleball players.
As part of the planning process, firm costs and funding options will be considered by GVAC.
More tennis courts were originally considered for Marshall Field but that’s not on the table right now.
“We’re not leaving out tennis. We’re just dealing with pickleball,” said director Doug Dirk, adding that tennis players have access to other facilities in the community and because of noise, pickleball needs to be located away from homes.
