There’s a pickle party at Queen Elizabeth Park and as of this week, everyone’s invited.
The Vancouver Park Board announced Thursday the installation of a combined space that allows for both pickleball and tennis to be played on the same surface.
The court remains available for tennis, but now has additional lines to accommodate four pickleball courts. Portable nets are put up by the players before each game and are stored on site.
It’s the first outdoor facility of its kind in the city.
“The park board is delighted to open Vancouver’s first outdoor pickleball court,” park board chair Sarah Kirby-Yung said in a news release. “We selected Queen Elizabeth Park with Memorial Park West and John Hendry Park to follow, in order to service pickleball players across the city. The courts will be flexible spaces where multiple sports can be played on one surface.”
Played predominantly by seniors, pickleball is like a hybrid of badminton, tennis and ping pong, with participants using wooden paddles and plastic whiffle balls.
The decision to convert those tennis courts comes after a request from the pickleball community, which is reportedly close to 1,000 members strong.
“The sport is becoming increasingly popular, especially with seniors. Today, there are almost 700 pickleball players in Vancouver so these new outdoor courts will be well used,” said Chuck Lefaive, founding director of Pickleball Canada and BC Pickleball.
The park board has indoor pickleball courts at 13 community centres, including Britannia, Hillcrest, Kitsilano and, new this season, Hastings.
@JohnKurucz
