Pickleball Courts at Silver Creek Elementary: Hope residents now have two new pickleball courts to enjoy at Silver Creek Elementary School after a $6,069 donation from AdvantageHOPE made the project possible. The funding, from the Municipal and Regional District Tax, was used to clean up the school courtyard and paint pickleball lines for public use.
Community Effort Revives Local Court
The project was a joint effort between AdvantageHOPE, Hope Mayor Victor Smith, and Fraser-Cascade School District 78.
“Tannis Hendriks, Wayne Desjardins and myself are proud to have worked with (Fraser-Cascade School District 78) in allowing to refurbish the school courtyard in Silver Creek Elementary School,” Hope’s Mayor Victor Smith said in an email to The Hope Standard.
“With funding provided by AdvantageHOPE, from the Municipal and Regional District Tax, it’s cleaned up for use and now has two pickleball courts.” – (Victor Smith)
The courts are open to the public. However, players must currently bring their own nets. Organizers hope to add permanent nets in the future.
“AdvantageHOPE was pleased to provide funding to remediate the court at Silver Creek Elementary, providing a beautiful playing surface for the local pickleball community and other users,” said Hendriks, board chair for AdvantageHOPE.
Pickleball’s Growing Popularity in Hope
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada. It blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. People of all ages enjoy it indoors or outdoors.
Hope has embraced the sport since it arrived in the community in 2013, when the Hope and District Recreation Commission first offered adult drop-in games at the Coquihalla Elementary School gym. In 2022, the Hope Chamber of Commerce began hosting tournaments, helping the sport grow even more in the Lower Mainland.
Bringing People Together Through Sport
The refurbished courts show how community support can turn a school courtyard into a shared recreational space. The new courts will encourage more residents to try the sport. Local sponsors are now working to provide nets for everyone to use, making the courts even more accessible.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts at Silver Creek Elementary
Hope now has two public pickleball courts at Silver Creek Elementary, thanks to a $6,069 donation from AdvantageHOPE. The funding cleaned up the school’s courtyard and added court lines. Residents must bring their own nets for now, but local sponsors are working to provide nets in the near future.
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