Pitch for indoor tennis, pickleball courts coming to Vancouver Park Board

The head of the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association holds a ball and paddle in an April 2022 file image. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

A proposal to create an indoor tennis and pickleball facility at no cost to the taxpayer is coming to the Vancouver Park Board next week.

Citing a dearth of year-round options for play, a motion being tabled by commissioner Scott Jensen asks staff to work with two groups toward establishing the Vancouver Racquet Centre

“The City of Vancouver currently has no indoor public tennis courts and the lowest available indoor racquet courts in the region, resulting in thousands of residents travelling to neighbouring municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby, and Surrey to access suitable facilities,” the motion says.

The proposal for the new facility is being served up by the Vancouver Tennis Society and the Vancouver Pickleball Association, which would finance and construct a centre with eight tennis courts and at least a dozen pickleball courts.

“Confirmation of a suitable land parcel is necessary to advance funding commitments and allow VTS and VPA to proceed with design, due diligence, and community engagement,” the motion continues.

Jensen is asking staff to work with the groups to find a “suitable location” and to report back with “findings, recommendations, and next-step options.”

The board will vote on the motion Dec. 8.