Eager to hit the courts

Photo: File photo

North Okanagan pickleball players have their racquets ready and are eager to hit the courts.

At a recent Vernon Pickleball Association (VPA) meeting attended by 100 members, enthusiastic endorsement and support was shown for prompt completion of the dedicated pickleball courts at Marshall Field.

The target for completing the $1.4 million, 12-court facility at Marshall Field is this spring.

Various funding options were discussed, and the membership is in full support of timely completion of the courts to meet the present and future needs of the sport in Vernon.

The more than 350 members in the VPA have contributed countless volunteer hours toward building the courts.

According to Don Friesen, chairperson of the dedicated court committee, “after hosting the second annual Bannister Honda Cruising Into Spring Pickleball tournament earlier this month, the VPA is excited to look to the future of hosting bigger and better tournaments on dedicated courts, such as the Pickleball Canada National Tournament which is currently hosted in Kelowna. The recent Vernon tournament attracted over 150 competitors ranging in age from 20 – 80 from all across B.C. More and more young people are picking up the sport of pickleball, and it is also being introduced in schools as it is easy to learn and exceptionally fun to play at all ages.

“The 12 dedicated pickleball courts at Marshall Field will be maintained by the VPA in a five-year lease agreement from the City of Vernon, with scheduled VPA play times and public access times. Access to the Marshall Field clubhouse, kitchen and washrooms will also be available to the VPA,” Friesen said.

Penticton and Kelowna already have dedicated pickleball courts.

Adventure Bay and Predator Ridge also have pickleball courts for their residents to enjoy.

Many resorts in the U.S. and Mexico are in the process of converting tennis courts to pickleball courts to meet the growing demand for vacationers.