Residents of all ages will soon be able to play one of North America’s fastest-growing sports on an outdoor surface in St. Albert.
Council on Monday night approved a motion by Coun. Len Bracko to create two pickleball courts at Larose Park. Painting the required lines and installing the net is estimated to cost approximately $8,300.
The sport, created in Seattle, Wash., and now quickly on the rise, is a hybrid of tennis, table tennis and badminton. It is played on an outdoor court that is similar to a tennis court but is slightly smaller. The racquets used more closely resemble paddles and the ball used is a wiffle ball, which means it travels at a much slower speed through the air.
The smaller surface and slower-moving ball make it a more attractive game for people like seniors, who might be experiencing increased mobility issues, Bracko said.
“It’s a sport for all ages that many seniors play down in the south in the winter. It’s cheaper too,” Bracko said.
The city will create two outdoor pickleball courts on an area of vacant asphalt beside the tennis courts at Larose Park. The city has approximately 20 tennis courts, but decided the unused space at Larose would be the best fit.
Monique St. Louis, director of recreation services, said she didn’t yet know when the courts would be available for play.
“The work is not that intensive,” said St. Louis. “It’s just a matter of getting a contractor.”
The city has already discovered there is some demand for outdoor pickleball courts locally. Servus Credit Union Place has offered pickleball courts at different times of the week since October 2010 and averages approximately 50 players a month.
“This will allow many more residents to play this sport and improve the quality of life and health of residents,” Bracko said. “I think it’s just going to grow.”
St. Louis said the sport, while not mentioned in the recreation master plan, is a great addition.
“It’s another example of spontaneous and unstructured use that is important for our community,” St. Louis said..
Mayor Nolan Crouse said he is looking forward to giving the sport a try.
“I’m looking forward to playing it outdoors,” Crouse said. “I think it has great aerobic and anaerobic potential.”
