Innisfil Residents Demand More Pickleball Courts: Nearly 120 residents in Innisfil have signed a petition calling for more pickleball courts to be built in the municipality. The petition was presented to the town council during a meeting on December 11.
Call for Dedicated Pickleball Courts
Raz Giancola, who spoke on behalf of the petitioners, emphasized the need for dedicated pickleball courts in Innisfil.
“We need pickleball courts here in Innisfil. The fact is, we don’t have any.” – (Raz Giancola)
Pickleball, known as the fastest-growing sport in Canada, is popular among all age groups. Its low-impact nature especially appeals to seniors, helping them stay active and social.
Concerns About Current Facilities
Giancola, a senior who plays pickleball regularly, raised concerns about the lack of dedicated courts in Alcona. Currently, the town’s tennis courts have pickleball markings, but the setup is confusing and not regulation size, causing issues for tennis and pickleball players.
“Our concern, besides the fact that we do not have any dedicated pickleball courts here anywhere in Alcona, is that there are no plans to build any anytime soon.” – (Raz Giancola)
Giancola also pointed out that there are no plans to build new pickleball courts in the near future. He suggested that the council move up the resurfacing of Innisfil Beach Park’s tennis courts from 2029-2030 to 2025, allowing two of the four courts to be converted into six pickleball courts.
“I know that tennis players don’t want any of their courts taken away, but they already were taken away when the pickleball lines were painted on them.” – (Raz Giancola)
Dissent and Alternative Proposals
Not everyone agrees with the proposal. Local tennis pro Diyan Nevins-Selvadurai expressed his surprise at the suggestion to convert the courts, arguing that there aren’t enough pickleball players in Innisfil. He suggested instead creating new pickleball courts in an empty space near the existing courts.
“I was quite surprised when I found out who was making the presentation. I thought this is some out-of-town person who is, in my opinion, quite arrogant. Compared to Barrie — which is a hotbed for pickleball — there really aren’t that many people playing pickleball in the Town of Innisfil.” – (Diyan Nevins-Selvadurai)
Deputy Mayor Kenneth Fowler supported Giancola’s proposal, suggesting that converting some courts at Jans Boulevard to pickleball-only could be a good option. Councillor Alex Waters also expressed sympathy for the petitioners, acknowledging the need for more recreational spaces.
“It would be nice to have something these people could use as opposed to their children.” – (Alex Waters)
Budget Concerns and Next Steps
While the petition was received, no immediate decisions were made by the council. The issue will likely be discussed during the town’s budget process. Mayor Lynn Dollin reminded the council that any plans would need to be funded.
“We can build whatever we want. If people want gold streets, we can build anything, as long as people are willing to pay for it.” – (Lynn Dollin)
Giancola expressed disappointment with the council’s response, particularly comments from the mayor and the lack of immediate action on the matter. He hopes that future discussions will lead to more opportunities for pickleball players in Innisfil.
“When I received applause from the two-dozen supporters, they were told by the mayor that this was not acceptable in the chamber. Why was an employee of the town — or anyone for that matter — allowed to attack my character without being refrained by the mayor?” – (Raz Giancola)
News in Brief: Innisfil Residents Demand More Pickleball Courts
Nearly 120 residents of Innisfil have petitioned for the construction of dedicated pickleball courts in the town. Represented by Raz Giancola, the petition was presented to the town council on December 11. Giancola, a senior pickleball player, highlighted the issues with the current tennis courts, which are not regulation-size and are shared with tennis players.
While some council members, including Deputy Mayor Kenneth Fowler, supported the idea, others, like tennis pro Diyan Nevins-Selvadurai, disagreed, citing a lack of demand. The council plans to discuss the matter further during budget discussions, with no immediate decisions made.
