Pickleball in the Greater Victoria Area 2019

Demographic

a. initially seniors but increasingly adults and youth where facilities and programs are available such as in schools and recreations centres b. those able to access community lessons, attend drop-in opportunities, and who have access to outdoor courts c. those with and without previous racquet or paddle experience d. a wide range of players of different abilities due to court dimensions and game rules

Appeal of the game

a. tremendous fun b. promotes fitness c. short learning curve d. welcoming and social atmosphere e. as skill increases play becomes very fast and competitively challenging

Current demand

a. growth is unprecedented and exponential (5400 members of affiliated clubs in BC and representing only a portion of players in each community) b. no signs of slowing growth c. two non-profit societies have formed in the Victoria region since 2016 – the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association (https://www.victoriapickleball.org) and Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association (https://www.saanichpeninsulapickleballassociation.com)

Growth challenges

Paucity of indoor and outdoor facilities and programs

working people and youth require evening and weekend opportunities currently not well served at recreation centres
drop-in opportunities meet the needs of beginners and recreational players who can attend them
advanced players gravitate to outdoor facilities in particular due to hours of accessibility and because drop-in does not allow them to organize themselves and practice together
to date only Saanich followed by North Saanich have built dedicated outdoor courts while Victoria (Topaz Park) and Oak Bay (Carnarvon) have plans for courts

Requests to Council

That redevelopment plans for parks and Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre include as many dedicated, USAPA specifications compliant pickleball courts as can be accommodated
That wherever possible, pickleball courts be built in groups of 4 or more courts
That Council develop long term goals to expand its facilities and programs to support the growing needs of the pickleball playing community

Video links

https://youtu.be/ek3DCa_sZX8 https://youtu.be/gywyDMM9kys

Thank you for taking the time to consider the above requests. View Royal pickleball players appreciate the efforts of the Town of View Royal to provide playing opportunities at Westshore Parks and Recreation facilities. We hope the expansion of such opportunities will enhance the reasons that people will want to work, live, and play in View Royal. The Victoria Regional Pickleball Association is willing and able to assist with guidance and information regarding both indoor and outdoor playing courts.

On behalf of pickleball players of View Royal,

Trish Main President, VRPA