Delta’s support behind the growing popularity of pickleball has the attention of avid players on the other side of the river.
The Richmond Pickleball Association was recently formed and already has the interest of about 100 players.
The hope is to have dedicated courts in Richmond — following the lead of Delta. The group has had an initial discussion with the city and is now looking for potential locations with under-utilized tennis courts that could be converted.
Currently, the game is mostly played at community centres throughout Richmond, using portable nets. About 50 percent of the old lacrosse box located at South Arm Park has been dedicated to outdoor pickleball but is seldom used with no netting, fencing and a bumpy playing surface.
So far in 2019, Pickleball B.C. has seen a surge in membership from 3,500 to nearly 5,000 players. The sport will be showcased when Richmond hosts the 55+ B.C. Games in 2020.
The group would love to see something similar to Memorial Park in Ladner where the one-time lacrosse box has been converted into three pristine courts. Last month, the city announced more new courts for Chalmers (North Delta), Dennison (Tsawwassen) and Cromie (Ladner) parks.
“We are very lucky. Our mayor came out here during the election campaign and I gave him my pitch how this sport keeps people active and out of the hospital. He lived up to his promise and everyone was on board with it,” explained Peter Darvill of the Delta Pickleball Association.
“This is the healthiest sport and anybody can play it. You get four people of the same level and it’s a whole lot of fun.”
Eight pickleball courts could fit into two regulation size tennis courts.
“We will be reporting back to them with potential sites,” said Ed Wong of the Richmond Pickleball Association. “Basically (the city) said they will not be giving up any green space to do it.”
The association says dedicated courts will take the sport to the next level within the city. Lessons and promotional campaigns could be launched, tournaments planned and, most importantly, pickleball would have a permanent presence.
“It would give us consistency too,” added Sandra Sequeira, another keen player in the city. “You are sharing floor time with other user groups in community centres so it’s not available all the time.”
Darvill says the added exposure of their Memorial Park location has done wonders for the Delta membership.
“We use to be tucked away where nobody can see us. Now cars are driving by and slowing down to take a look. They realize they can play this sport too so they pay their $20 (membership) and come out,” said Darvill. “It’s a very easy sport to get better at and it’s not a game where you need to be a superstar.”
