The Town of Qualicum Beach council supports a proposal to build a pickleball court in the community.
Mayor Teunis Westbroek at a special council meeting on April 19, made a successful motion to include a provision in the 2024 budget for the development of pickleball courts. It will comprise of town-provided land, $85,000 to be contributed from funds raised by the group that’s pushing for pickleball courts, and $85,000 to be allocated from the Growing Community Reserve funds.
“I thought this way we could give them a chance to start raising funds,” said Westbroek. “We’re not going to pay for the whole thing. This is a classic example of Qualicum Beach working with volunteer organizations who would run the facility, who would raise funds for the facility. And the town would be supportive by doing this. It will still have time for discussion when the 2024 budget comes up. But I think by making this statement, it gives clarity to where the town is going and to support what I think is one of the fastest sports in North America.
READ MORE: New Qualicum Beach club makes a pitch for more pickleball courts
Last month, the newly formed Qualicum Beach Pickleball Club appeared as a delegation at council’s regular meeting on March 22 to ask the town to build pickleball courts due to the increasing number of people playing the sport in the community.
Two possible locations in Qualicum Beach were suggested. One is the space between the Qualicum Beach tennis courts and Qualicum Beach Curling Club, where three courts could be built. The other location is in the middle field at the Qualicum Beach Community Park close to the civic centre that already has washrooms and will be close to other facilities. Four courts, the club cited, could possibly fit there.