An avid pickleball player wants to bring the sport to the Meadowood community.
Colin McCartie has requested the Regional District of Nanaimo paint pickleball court lines on the basketball court at Meadowood Park in Qualicum Beach, just behind the Meadowood Store.
“I know a good number of locals who will jump on the opportunity to play outdoors locally,” McCartie said in his request letter to the RDN, presented at the Electoral Area F (Errington, Coombs, Hilliers, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee meeting on June 15.
McCartie, an experienced pickleball player, conducted a cursory measurement of the court and he feels it’s possible to have two pickleball courts at the park located at 1810 Gavin Place in Qualicum Beach.
Permanent nets would not be required, said McCartie, since most of pickleball enthusiasts in the area have portable nets that can be erected in minutes.
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“The Parksville Community Park courts have followed this approach,” McCartie pointed out. “All that is needed is that the courts have small hash marks at the centre point of the length of the court to mark where the portable nets should be set up.”
McCartie said that he is willing to voluntarily contribute his knowledge and experience to the RDN for the court design.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the region. Play areas are mainly available at Parksville Community Park’s tennis courts and lacrosse box and at the Qualicum Beach tennis courts.
There is now a proposal to convert the Parksville Community Park’s tennis courts into eight permanent pickleball courts and also to refurbish the lacrosse box to allow for nine pickleball courts that can be set up and also take down after playing.