Grey Highlands is putting in new pickleball courts in Flesherton.
Council approved installing two or four courts on the municipal property next to the Flesherton Arena and Library during a meeting on Wednesday.
This comes as the Flesherton Pickleball Group has been active in the municipality for several years, making use of the Flesherton Arena during the summer and a local private club for indoor play. The group also offers a youth pickleball camp.
To date, the group has raised about $72,000 through community fundraising and events. Grey Highlands has committed $50,000 towards the project.
While the preferred located is on the municipal land next to the arena and library, it is currently used for snow storage during the winter, and the soil has possibly been exposed to contaminants.
If the municipality moves ahead with this location, soil sampling and environmental testing will need to happen to ensure it is safe.
Council also approved holding off on entering into a partnership agreement with Pickleball Grey Highlands for project funding and management.
Recreation and Facilities Manager Shawnette Duvall-Crouse recommended council defer this decision as the agreement was not fully prepared as of yet.
Council approved having staff work with the pickleball group on an agreement.
Additionally, council held off on providing more funding for the project, entering into a lease agreement for the courts, and have staff apply for grant funding until an agreement comes back.