I am Central Saanich resident and have attended all North Saanich council meetings dealing with the Wain Park pickleball courts since the courts were closed. They are the only courts on the Peninsula where people dropped in to play and meet up with other like-minded players. It was a very successful amenity in North Saanich where friendships were made and people could play.
Jack McClintock made the motion to keep the courts open and put sound dampeners up for a cost of under $30,000. It was mentioned we would contribute around $8,000 towards the cost. Celia Stock also voted in favour.
All the other councilors along with the mayor voted against reopening the courts. Council has been provided with data from the Oak Bay courts proving that sound panels work to reduce the noise to the levels of playing tennis but they choose to ignore this data and won’t discuss it. Why don't they want to solve the noise problem?
To close the pickleball courts for the sake of one or two neighbours who complain about noise seems to be very strange when over 1,500 people signed a petition to reopen the courts, including over 500 North Saanich residents.
It has been reported that the mayor told one or two neighbours last year that he would close the courts. However, we all know how to do the math that spending $35,000 is a lot cheaper than trying to build new courts elsewhere which would cost over $500,000.
Couns. McClintock and Stock seem to be the only two people on council who understand the fiscal responsibility to the residents to keep these courts open. They used common sense in their decision to support the existing courts.
What is needed is a mayor and council who understand the importance of physical fitness and mental health.
I have listened to the mayor speak on the radio and found his comments to be misleading. I think he owes his constituents and the pickleball community at large an apology.
