Construction begins on St. James pickleball complex

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This article was published 12/07/2022 (1437 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A sport that has recently spiked in popularity will soon have a new hub in Winnipeg.

On July 6, workers broke ground on what will become a one-of-a-kind, eight-court pickleball complex at the St. James Memorial Sports Park (417 Sackville St.).

The courts will feature nets, a perimeter fence and a storage shed.

The vast, grassy site upon which the facility will be located would allow for future expansion if needed, explained a press release from the office of Scott Gillingham, the councillor for St. James.

“Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport with a demand for more playing facilities,” Gillingham said in the release. “The new courts, located next to the Yellow Ribbon Greenway Trail, will promote active living and will mean more people will be able to enjoy pickleball for years to come.”

The West Winnipeg Pickleball Club, which ballooned from 80 members to nearly 250 after transferring to Bourkevale Community Centre two years ago, celebrated the groundbreaking.

“We look forward to this new home for our club and are excited to be a part of the growth of organized pickleball in Winnipeg,” Kevin Harrison, president of the West Winnipeg Pickleball Club, said in a statement. “We have seen a significant growth in our membership since the spring when the St. James courts were first announced and expect this trend to continue.”

The new courts come with a price tag of $415,000. The project was paid for through the city’s land dedication reserve fund from the St. James ward. It was endorsed by Gillingham and the city’s parks department.