YORKTON - The number of pickleball players in Yorkton is growing and that means a growing demand for court space.
Anne Stupak with Pickleball Yorkton delivered that message to Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday.
Stupak noted the local club began only a couple of years ago with 23 members in year one, and now has more than 200.
And, numbers continue to grow following a trend which has pickleball noted as the fastest growing sport in the world at present. Stupak said each time the club holds a clinic to introduce the sport to new players their number grows.
The membership ranges from 50-70 years of age, with a 60/40 male-to-female split.
While many members are retired, the number who still work is growing and those participants seek time to play.
“We’re feeling pressure for more weekend and evening times,” said Stupak.
At present the club plays outdoors in summer then moves to indoor facilities for winter.
In the summer there are courts at a couple of city parks but lines are only taped, and they wear off leaving a sticky line. At some point permanent lines would be welcome.
In winter they have access to three courts at Gloria Hayden Centre and five at the Flexihall, although both are used by other groups as well, explained Stupak.
“All of these courts have seen steady growth in usage,” she said.
Stupak said it would be possible to re-align things at the Flexihall to have eight courts with some effort in terms of lining the floor for pickleball.
While not directly asking for new court space, Stupak said the needs of the sport should be kept in mind in terms of existing facilities, or in expansion plans the city may have moving forward.
