Pickleball courts will soon be available at the arena in Wiarton.
Mayor Janice Jackson says, “Pickleball is so incredibly popular because we have a large population of seniors in south Bruce peninsula and many of them are Snowbirds. They winter in Florida where pickle ball is IT.”
Pickleball is a sport that's a mixture of badminton, tennis and table tennis. It uses paddles and a ball full of holes, very similar to a whiffle ball.
After an earlier report from Town staff that looked at the most feasible locations, it was decided Wiarton would be the best spot, and $2,500 was allotted in the 2020 budget for it.
Within the municipality, pickleball courts also already exist at the Sauble-Amabel Community School, but that's closed right now because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Wiarton arena will have three courts for use in the summertime.
Jackson says the existing program at the school in Sauble has shown there's a demand for it, “It's packed. It's two nights a week and we cant fit any more pickleball players on the slate.”
Jackson says the lines are due to be painted this summer.
With regard to COVID-19, a staff report says many players bring their own paddles and there will be a limit to the number of players at a time.
She also notes, the arena's zamboni doors will be open, “It will be kind of like playing outside” says Jackson noting “We will be adhering to COVID restrictions but it will enable our community to have a great time and play pickleball in Wiarton.”