Pickleball Growth in Nanaimo: The city of Nanaimo celebrated the grand opening of eight new pickleball courts at Beban Park on Thursday, October 31, adding to its diverse recreational facilities. In true Northwest spirit, about 50 players braved the rain to witness the ribbon cutting, highlighting the sport’s rising popularity in the region. Richard Harding, General Manager of Community Services, kicked off the event dressed as a pickle, with a land acknowledgment to honor local traditions.
Nanaimo’s Mayor Applauds the Community Impact
Mayor Leonard Krog, in attendance, emphasized the pickleball courts’ significance for community wellness.
“It has been a wonderful way to encourage good health and build community in this town, and I am grateful for the work of all of you who have helped secure this facility today, the contribution that’s been made by the contractors, all of the workers.” – (Leonard Krog)
“It has been a wonderful way to encourage good health and build community in this town.” he said, commending the efforts of everyone involved in the project, from contractors to city workers.
While Mayor Leonard Krog admitted he has yet to try pickleball himself, he expressed enthusiasm for its impact. “I suspect this facility is going to see an incredible amount of use.” he added, noting the sport’s incredible rise in popularity.
“The take-off of pickleball as a popular sport is unbelievable, and it must be successful because so many of you are out here standing in the cold listening to me.” – (Leonard Krog)
Players Brave the Weather to Test New Pickleball Courts
Despite rainy conditions, players were quick to occupy five of the eight new pickleball courts after the ribbon-cutting. These pickleball courts come as a response to noise complaints from residents near the six pickleball courts at Beaufort Park.
In December 2023, Nanaimo city council voted to replace those pickleball courts with the Beban Park pickleball courts, which feature fencing, event power, and a water fountain. A windscreen and bleachers are expected soon, according to Pete Entwistle, Parks Project Coordinator.
“Then we have some bleachers coming. So we designed this middle area as a 20-foot gap so we could basically host tournaments, that type of thing. So we’re about five/six weeks away for those bleachers.” – (Pete Entwistle)
A Sport for All Ages and Experience Levels
Veteran pickleball player Werner Mollenhoff and recent fan Eva Hamori attended the opening. Werner Mollenhoff, who has played for seven years, prefers indoor games in colder months but came to support the launch.
“I play three, four times a week, and right now, actually, I’m playing indoors, because it is cold out here. That’s always two-hour sessions and Saturdays two and a half hour sessions.” – (Werner Mollenhoff)
For Eva Hamori, pickleball has been a way to connect with others after moving to Nanaimo. Excited about the new facility, she reflected on the sport’s accessibility.
“Usually I go to the one down [at Beaufort Park], and we’re always fighting over space. So when I heard that this was opening, I thought, ‘What a great way to meet new people in my new city, right?’” – (Eva Hamori)
“So generally you can play the first time you learn. That’s kind of the cool thing about it is you really progress quite rapidly. You can play against intermediate people pretty close to right away.” – (Eva Hamori)
“Generally you can play the first time you learn.” she shared, adding that it’s an ideal way to meet new people. She encouraged newcomers to try it, emphasizing the sport’s inclusivity. “People just welcomed me in.” Eva Hamori said, showing the community’s supportive spirit.
“So it’s a great way of meeting people. It’s very social. But again, it’s a really fast game. You meet a lot of people very quickly, and being new to this city, this is a great way of meeting people. Even though I’m not a senior, they are full of life, full of energy, they’re very open and talkative. It’s a great group of people.” – (Eva Hamori)
Werner Mollenhoff echoed her sentiments, noting the sport’s social appeal.
“You have to come out, but it’s a very social sport, and you can learn it fairly fast. Within two months, you [are a] decent player or faster [at it], and it’s a lot of fun. I don’t know any other sport where people laugh as much, that they’re really happy when coming out here playing and meeting new people.” – (Werner Mollenhoff)
Both players anticipate the pickleball courts will continue drawing fans, young and old, ready to connect over Nanaimo’s fastest-growing sport.
News in Brief: Pickleball Growth in Nanaimo
Nanaimo’s Beban Park celebrated the grand opening of eight new pickleball courts on October 31, drawing about 50 community members despite rainy weather. Mayor Leonard Krog praised the pickleball courts as a boon for health and social interaction, while players quickly filled the courts to mark the occasion.
These pickleball courts replace the Beaufort Park pickleball facilities, which received noise complaints. Additional features, including bleachers, are anticipated soon, enhancing the pickleball courts’ potential as a tournament venue. Local players, seasoned and new, expressed enthusiasm for pickleball’s social and accessible nature.
ALSO READ: The Rise of Pickleball in Local Towns: From Pickleball Courts to Communities
