Rossmore Road location proposed for designated pickleball facility

A proposal being developed by city staff could turn James Elliott Sports Complex off Rossmore Road into Sault Ste. Marie's first designated pickleball park.

Recreation supervisor Margaret Hazelton was greenlighted Tuesday by the city's parks and recreation advisory committee to investigate costs and layouts of an eight-court pickleball facility in what's now part of the Elliott parking lot.

Last year, Reader's Digest described pickleball as "the fastest-growing sport in America."

"It's similar to tennis or badminton and ping-pong," Hazelton told the committee's final meeting of 2018.

"It's played on a court that's about the size of a badminton court. It's a paddle and a plastic ball that has holes. You can play as doubles or singles."

Here in Sault Ste. Marie, a majority of pickleballers prefer doubles play.

Numerous venues here offer indoor pickleball facilities.

Despite the sport's growing local popularity, there are currently no outdoor courts specifically designated for it.

Of Sault Ste. Marie's 74 municipal parks, three offer outdoor tennis courts that are also marked for pickleball:

• LaSalle Park at LaSalle Court and Mary Avenue
• Snowden Park (Shannon Road at Florwin Drive)
• William Merrifield Park on Patrick Street

"The usage in the spring and summertime at these courts – particularly Snowden and William Merrifield – is at capacity," Hazelton said.

"In order to have new players come and play at a recreational level, and to have those players getting better continue to play, there's a need for more pickleball courts."

Local pickleball dink-shotters are pushing for an eight-court designated facility with parking, washrooms and staff support.

"Increasing the number of dual outdoor tennis/ pickleball courts is not seen as a recommended solution as it impedes with our municipal tennis offerings, keeping in mind that one municipal tennis court has been converted to a remote-control car facility and three tennis courts have dual lining for tennis and pickleball," Hazelton said in a briefing document presented to committee members.

"Municipal outdoor locations were reviewed using the needs assessment as identified by local pickleball players. Elliott Park Sports Complex has been identified the best option for the development of an outdoor pickleball facility. This location is being studied."

North Street Park was looked at but was rejected because it lacked sufficient space.

Ward 4 councillor Rick Niro asked Thursday whether outdoor or indoor pickleball courts might be considered as part of the city's deliberations about the future of its down-at-the-heels W.J. McMeeken Centre.

Elliott Park offers slow-pitch fields, a soccer pitch and a bocce court.

City staff are hoping to upgrade the bocce court.

"Elliott Park Sports Complex on any given day, there's no significant usage," Hazelton said.

She described the parking lot there as "massive" and being "never at capacity."

It will cost about $20,000 to cover the granular surface with asphalt to create pickleball courts, she added.

Mark Kontulainen, athletics and recreation director at Algoma University's George Leach Centre, said the sport has really taken off there.

"It's really popular. It's a lot of fun. That's why it's caught on," Kontulainen said.

The pickleball park proposal will be presented to the parks and recreation advisory committee, and later to City Council for final approval.