North Saanich council voted to move forward with replacing the pickleball courts at Wain Park with a new community gathering space, potentially featuring a basketball court and covered picnic tables.
The motion by Coun. Christine Marshall was brought forward and approved at a recent council meeting – Couns. Phil DiBattista and Jack McClintock opposed the motion.
McClintock expressed concern about repurposing the existing facility saying, "I wouldn’t be in favour of setting up a basketball court on pickleball court land. I think if anything we can recondition what we already have rather than destroy a public asset."
He was referring to an existing basketball court located adjacent to the pickleball courts.
The proposal stems from a district staff recommendation presented on Monday (March 10), which suggested transforming the space into an area with picnic tables, umbrellas, portable basketball hoops and hockey nets, a kids cycling area, and outdoor checker and chess tables. The recommendation also included the possibility of reserving the space for fitness or yoga classes.
The preliminary cost estimate for the draft proposal is $10,000.
However, DiBattista questioned the feasibility of the budget, arguing, "Basketball courts alone would cost $10,000 so there's no way it can be done for that budget. I wanna see what that looks like as a fulsome report."
District staff assured the council a number of reserve funds, including park capital reserve funds and community funds, are available should more accurate estimates exceed the initial budget.
"If a staff report were to come back, we would identify the reserve funds that we would propose to fund it out of," a staff member said.
Council's vote signifies the beginning of a process to further explore the proposal, gather more detailed cost estimates, and consider potential funding sources before making a final decision on the future of the Wain Park pickleball courts.
The community will likely have opportunities to voice their opinions as the project moves forward.
Staff will present the report to council at one of its next meetings.
Council will also discuss the next stages for the proposed Blue Heron Park Pickleball Facility, following a poll of people within 600 meters of the facility. Out of 405 respondents, 54 per cent indicated no to further developing the concept of pickleball courts at Blue Heron.
