If any one sport continues its winning streak, it seems that pickleball is that sport.
During a mirthful committee of the whole meeting recently, members of Tiny Township council awarded the repaving and resurfacing of Parkside Park tennis and pickleball courts for a cost of $129,924 plus HST to Powcon Inc. based out of Cannington.
The project is intended to reconstruct the three tennis courts at the park including their base and hot mix asphalt, new surface and fencing. One tennis court will be converted into two pickleball courts with nets installed.
Public works director Tim Leitch spoke at the meeting, explaining that through the parks and recreation committee the option to fix the courts was prompted by surface deterioration.
“Based on the demand of pickleball that we’ve seen within the township, we made a decision… to provide dedicated pickleball courts,” said Leitch. “Also within this is to improve the surface on the other two courts, which will also have the lines for pickleball.
“We’re very excited to improve this facility; that’s a great little park we have going on down at Parkside Park, and this would make it even greater,” Leitch added.
Coun. Steffen Walma chaired the meeting and had a case of the giggles as the discussion on pickleball began, making the council talks light-hearted for all.
A question by Mayor Dave Evans was aimed at the cost for included fencing, as he noted the tender could be cheaper without the fence.
Replied Leitch: “That is typical when you see these dedicated pickleball courts. It helps keep the ball in control from rolling all over; they are very close. It also keeps the people within that so you’re not crossing over and you have a tennis ball or tennis player in the pickleball players’ (area), (as) they do become in very close proximity from a safety standpoint. They're not tall fences; they’re typically three-foot fences.”
Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins quipped it could result in a third of the cost, while Evans joked his thought that players just didn’t like each other.
Throughout the laughter, Coun. Dave Brunelle seriously asked about the court deterioration and its unexpected decline, which Leitch dutifully answered.
“That’s why we wanted to address the other half,” said Leitch of the tender. “The other two courts aren’t bad, but this is an opportunity: when you fix one, let’s just fix the whole thing. Now from an asset management (perspective), we’re starting the clock at zero. And we have the funds in order to make sure we make this thing really good.”
Coun. Kelly Helowka praised the project. “Looking forward to it, I know we have a lot of pickleball players now – way more than we ever have in the past – and I know we’re going to have more. It’s a great project.”
Stifling his humour, Walma read the tender and it was then approved. His parting comment was praise for pickleball while comparing it to another paddle activity.
“I love pickleball, just so you guys know," Walma said. "It’s a fun sport. It’s like playing ping pong on the table."
The Balm Beach pickleball courts award of tender report, including preliminary sketch and tender process, can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.
