THUNDER BAY — City residents are getting an opportunity to express their opinions about the potential expansion of pickleball facilities, and how court usage should be allocated in future.
The city has launched an online survey that's available until the end of the day on Nov. 13.
Information gathered in the survey will be included in an administration report that's due to be submitted to city council in December.
After a deputation to council from the Thunder Bay Pickleball Club earlier this year, it was decided that broader community consultation was required to help determine the right direction.
The club was seeking a partnership with the city to explore the development of what would eventually be a covered, all-season facility at the Northwood Playfield on James Street North.
The city has already constructed a seasonal facility at Boulevard Lake.
Cory Halvorsen, the city's manager of parks and open spaces, said Wednesday that the city would like to meet the needs of the pickleball club while also providing for public access.
He said the city is looking to provide a second site on the south side, "starting with an outdoor installation similar to Boulevard Lake," and that Chapples Park and the Westfort Playfield are two other potential locations.
"Right now, we're going through some growing pains trying to meet the needs of both the public and member-only use."
The supervisor of parks and open space planning for the city, Werner Schwar, noted that at the Boulevard Lake facility this summer, on a trial basis certain times during the week were reserved for club members only, and there were some complaints about this from other players, "and that's another reason we wanted to go out with a broader survey. We heard a few complaints, but is that speaking for the general public, or is that isolated individuals?"
Halvorsen said the survey will help determine the time of day that's most important for pickleball players to have access, whether they have concerns about member-only type bookings on the dedicated courts, and how that might impact their ability to access the sites.
"That's the balancing act that we're trying to manoeuvre through...So there are a number of questions that are trying to get to the point, get some feedback, and provide some information to the public, too, about the types of things we need to consider."
He described input from the public as "crucial" for the city to make decisions going forward.
