Victoria council has asked city staff to look into allowing pickleball on a trial basis on one of the tennis courts in Beacon Hill Park, despite fears it could stir up trouble with tennis players.
While staff warned that courts in Beacon Hill Park and Stadacona Park are heavily used by tennis players and any introduction of pickleball was likely to create conflict between the two groups, some councillors seemed intent on re-establishing a pickleball option in James Bay.
Coun. Ben Isitt said since there has been a growing take-up of the sport and a lack of suitable courts, it might be time to reconsider Beacon Hill Park. He suggested that at least one of the park’s three courts be made available to pickleball users on a trial basis.
That will be one option city staff look at as they work with pickleball users to find alternatives.
This month, pickleball was banned from Todd Park in James Bay after noise complaints from residents.
Players who used Todd Park, where the city had more than 1,000 hours of block bookings for pickleball last year, were relocated to tennis courts at Central Park.
City staff said pickleball user groups, tennis user groups and city staff had agreed that Beacon Hill Park was not a good option.
The topic was raised at Thursday’s council committee meeting after Coun. Stephen Andrew put forward a motion that staff find a suitable location for at least one dedicated pickleball court in James Bay.
Some councillors noted that staff are already working on the problem and there was no need for council to get involved at this point.
Council agreed to endorse the staff’s continued search for pickleball options in Beacon Hill Park and other suitable locations in James Bay, as well as looking at a trial court in the park.
The city has plans for at least six pickleball courts in the next phase of improvements to Topaz Park. The design process will begin this year and construction will start in 2023.
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