Will Qualicum Beach’s New Pickleball Courts Get Approval: In 2023, the Town of Qualicum Beach allocated $85,000 in the 2024 budget for the construction of pickleball courts. However, this project is contingent on the Qualicum Beach Pickleball Club (QBPC) matching that amount through fundraising. Unfortunately, the club has struggled to meet this financial requirement.
Club representative Peter Drummond addressed the town council on September 10, revealing that they have only raised approximately $3,000 despite numerous funding applications, including a $30,000 request from the Regional District of Nanaimo.
The QBPC, with 84 members, is demanding new courts due to the high demand for pickleball in the area. Drummond highlighted that the Oceanside Pickleball Club, with 80 members from Qualicum Beach, and the Parksville Oceanside Pickleball Society, with 100 members, bring the total number of local players to 264.
“That totals 264 players that would like to play here. And that more than suggest that the demand is very, very high for pickleball in the town.” – (Drummond)
Alternative Proposal for Court Conversion
With the original plan stalled, the QBPC proposed an alternative: converting one of the three tennis courts on Veteran’s Way into four pickleball courts. This plan includes moving the east side fence on Berwick Road, adjacent to The Gardens Retirement Home, to accommodate the new courts. The cost of this conversion would be about one-third of the town’s initial commitment, according to Drummond.
“The cost of repurposing this tennis court is estimated to be about one-third of the town’s original commitment a year-and-a-half ago. It delivers four courts. It’s sufficient to provide the local club with adequate play for many, many years. And after all the alterations, I can guarantee this, there would be no disputes between the tennis and pickleball clubs.” – (Drummond)
However, this proposal has faced resistance. The Arrowsmith Tennis Club, which was consulted about the conversion, did not support the idea. Additionally, while the potential noise impact on nearby residents was assessed and deemed not problematic, the proposal has not been widely accepted.
Mayor’s Call for Community Commitment
Mayor Teunis Westbroek emphasized that successful recreational projects in the town, such as the Curling Club and Lawn Bowling Club, were funded through community-driven initiatives. He suggested that the QBPC members show their commitment by contributing to fundraising efforts, although Drummond indicated that many club members are reluctant to engage in smaller fundraising activities.
Westbroek also proposed that the QBPC explore ways to issue tax receipts for donations, which could help attract more contributors.
The QBPC faces a critical juncture as it seeks to bridge the funding gap and manage the town’s expectations for community involvement. The future of the designated pickleball courts remains uncertain, contingent on the club’s ability to show financial commitment and broad support from local stakeholders.
“All of the other groups that I mentioned, put some of their money down to show us there’s a real buy-in and not say ‘the taxpayers should pay all of it.'” – (Westbroek)
News in Brief: Will Qualicum Beach’s New Pickleball Courts Get Approval
The Town of Qualicum Beach allocated $85,000 for new pickleball courts in 2024, contingent on the QBPC matching the amount through fundraising. However, the club has only raised $3,000. With 264 local players advocating for new courts, the QBPC proposed converting a tennis court into four pickleball courts at one-third of the original cost.
This plan faces resistance from the Arrowsmith Tennis Club and has not gained widespread support. Mayor Teunis Westbroek emphasized the need for community-driven funding, suggesting QBPC members contribute and explore tax-deductible donations to bridge the funding gap and meet the town’s expectations.
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