File photo of a pickleball player. (Canadian Press)

By Justin Goulet

New pickleball courts coming to Lethbridge

May 11, 2022 | 7:09 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Six more pickleball courts are coming to Lethbridge.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, City Council voted unanimously to approve a recent recommendation from the Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee (SPC) to construct the new courts. There are currently six existing courts in Lethbridge at Legacy Park.

City Councillor Mark Campbell said, “we are looking forward to adding more pickleball courts in our city to help meet the rapidly increasing interest in this fun sport.”

Campbell is also the Chair of the Cultural and Social SPC.

The recommendation to construct the additional courts was outlined in the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program Initiative D-30. Full details are available at the City of Lethbridge website.

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General Manager of Recreation and Culture Robin Harper said, “when complete, the 12 courts will include wind turbine protection and an operational model and agreement for use and access to the courts will be developed through discussions with the Lethbridge Pickleball Club to ensure access to both the Club and the public.”

Before deciding on moving ahead with the idea to build the six new courts, to the north of the existing courts, it was decided to explore the possibility of repurposing the adjacent two tennis courts to pickleball courts, as an opportunity to utilize existing infrastructure and reduce capital expenses. Residents were involved in that process by taking part in a survey in late 2021. There were 601 participant responses to the survey.

READ MORE: City of Lethbridge launches survey on pickleball court construction

With Tuesday’s approval, the existing tennis courts will be left as is. Construction on the new pickleball courts will start in late 2022 or early 2023.