Pickleball’s Growth in Edmonton: As pickleball’s popularity continues to grow in the Edmonton region, clubs are struggling with limited court space, particularly during the warmer months. Some clubs, including the Strathcona County Pickleball Association (SCPA), have even had to cap memberships due to a lack of available courts.
Rapid Growth of Pickleball
Pickleball, a sport similar to tennis but played on smaller courts, has seen a rise in Alberta. In 2016, the province had just one club with 138 members.
Fast forward to today, and there are dozens of clubs with more than 10,000 members. The demand for courts, however, has not kept pace with the growing popularity of the sport.
Court Shortage Hurts Clubs
The SCPA is one of the many clubs grappling with a severe shortage of courts. Currently, the Sherwood Heights Pickleball Courts in Sherwood Park, built in 2017, only have eight outdoor courts, far from enough to meet demand.
The club has 567 members but could grow to 900 or 1,000 members if more courts were available. Programs regularly fill up within minutes of being posted, leaving many eager players unable to participate.
Barbara Mullen, president of the SCPA, presented a proposal for a 20-court facility to Strathcona County earlier this week. The new facility would cost $2.5 million, with the club contributing $150,000.
Mullen believes that with provincial grants and the county’s support, the new facility could accommodate the growing demand for courts and attract even more players to the sport.
“With growing 30 per cent each year, we could very much go as high as 900, 1,000 members if we had the courts to accommodate them.” – (Mullen)
The project’s approval is still pending, with a decision expected later this year.
St. Albert and Parkland Face Similar Challenges
The St. Albert Pickleball Club, the second-largest in the province with 1,150 members, is also facing court shortages. The Alpine Pickleball Courts are often overcrowded, especially on Saturdays.
President Eileen McClean emphasized the club’s need for more outdoor courts to meet the demand. However, land in St. Albert is scarce and expensive, making it difficult for the non-profit organization to expand.
“If 20 courts were miraculously opened, we could fill them, no problem.” – (McClean)
Meanwhile, west of Edmonton, the Parkland Pickleheads are building 24 outdoor courts in Stony Plain. With the help of a developer, the club is also planning a 14-court indoor pickleball facility next to the outdoor courts, bringing the total number of courts to 42.
“The problem that we ran into was that any of the municipal land that was available, and there wasn’t a lot of it available, was not ideal or not located in a good location.” – (Jones)
The club raised $400,000 for the project, with support from the City of Spruce Grove and the provincial government. Construction began last fall, and the project is expected to be completed by September.
City of Edmonton Responds
In Edmonton, pickleball courts are in high demand, with all available hours at city facilities fully booked on a regular basis. A recent city council memo acknowledged the growing need for pickleball spaces and stated the city’s commitment to including pickleball courts in future park plans.
Pickleball advocates argue that investing in the sport is crucial, as it is affordable and accessible to players of all ages, making it an ideal community activity.
“Pickleball is very supportive and very welcoming, and I think that is a great thing to have in our community.” – (Mullen)
The Need for More Investment
While pickleball clubs face competition for space from other sports, such as ice hockey, proponents argue that pickleball’s benefits make it worthy of investment.
As the sport continues to grow, community leaders are being urged to recognize its potential and provide more space for players to enjoy the game.
News in Brief: Pickleball’s Growth in Edmonton
Pickleball clubs in the Edmonton region are struggling with a severe shortage of courts as demand grows rapidly. The Strathcona County Pickleball Association has proposed a new 20-court facility to meet demand, while St. Albert and Parkland Pickleheads are also seeking more space. The City of Edmonton has committed to considering pickleball in future park plans to accommodate the sport’s growth.
ALSO READ: New Pickleball Courts at Merrill Rose Memorial Park Elevate St. Anthony’s Community Spirit!