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Our Parks and Recreation Master Plan(External link) recognizes pickleball as an increasingly popular sport for Londoners. Over the last few years, the City has built eight new pickleball courts, but the need for more courts is growing. In alignment with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan(External link), we have been looking at options to add pickleball courts across London. Our recommendations include:
- preparing a tennis and pickleball court plan in alignment with future needs (up to ten additional courts by 2039); identify gaps and potential locations; establish priorities for upgrades, replacement, removal, or repurposing; and identify funding strategy to support construction and renewal of courts.
- evaluate outdoor pickleball court needs on a case-by-case basis, with a preference for locating them in areas with demonstrated demand. Opportunities to accommodate a pickleball complex of four or more courts (supported with amenities such as shade, washrooms, and nearby parking) should be explored further.
City staff will look at the overall need and supply of outdoor pickleball and tennis courts in London’s parks between now and 2039. While we continue to develop the long-term goals of this plan, the City will take immediate steps to provide more outdoor pickleball courts by adding pickleball lines on existing tennis courts. Based on research and consultation, we plan to implement Phase One of the plan in the spring of 2021.
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In 2021, we will make use of existing tennis courts for dual purposes by painting pickleball lines on them. This has been a common way for many cities to address the gaps in court distribution for this growing sport.
The current distribution of existing pickleball courts is not equal across the City, with most being in the central eastern area. To balance this, newly painted pickleball lines will be added to existing tennis courts in good condition. Tennis lines will also be repainted at this time. The proposed sites for new pickleball lines on existing tennis courts includes:
| Park |
Location |
Oakridge Optimist Community Park (2)
|
825 Valetta Street
|
Fairmont Park
|
117 Tweedsmuir Avenue
|
Jorgenson Park
|
1308 Norman Avenue
|
Ambleside Park
|
257 Ambleside Drive
|
Carroll Park
|
270 Ellerslie Road
|
Mitches Park
|
640 Upper Queen Street
|
Piccadilly Park (2)
|
695 Waterloo Street |
| Whisperwood Park |
211 Whisperwood Avenue
|
These courts will be dual purpose, but the rules of play are the same: courts are shared on a first come, first serve basis. If people arrive and are waiting to play, existing players must vacate the court within 45 minutes to allow others to play.
In the summer of 2021, reconstruction at Hastings Park will occur with two new tennis courts and two new pickleball courts.
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The medium- and long-term goals of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan are dependent on a firmer understanding of the community’s needs, on the use trends for both tennis and pickleball courts, and on funding. At this time, there is insufficient funding to fully meet the recommendations in the Plan.
To establish base user data, the City will be tracking use of both outdoor tennis and pickleball courts through 2021. We will also be preparing a consultation plan to seek input from stakeholders and the general public on how best to fulfil the Parks & Recreation Master Plan recommendations. More information will be provided in the summer.
