By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Pickleball is so popular that Cobourg is running out of room for the players, council heard at this week’s committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Robert Rennie and Gary Kirton described the situation, and their hopes for what the town can do to help.
Right now, pickleball’s popularity is growing beyond Cobourg borders, Rennie said. In fact, it’s the fastest-growing sport in North America.
Kirton said the local pickleball community is a key reason he and his wife chose to retire in Cobourg five years ago. Over that time, pickleball enrollment at the Cobourg Community Centre has grown from about 30 to almost 200. And Cobourg will be hosting the provincial pickleball championships in May.
But more courts are badly needed, he said.
An opportunity to address the situation is occuring with the resurfacing of tennis courts at Peter Delanty Park on Covert Street. The tennis courts could also easily accommodate pickleball with the proper line marking. It would be an inexpensive fix to do this with the three Covert Street courts, Rennie said.
Cheap though it may be, Councillor Emily Chorley’s motion to support the request said only that the costs would be considered during this year’s budget deliberations.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
