Charlottetown pickleball community celebrates new courts at Hillsborough Park

After a year of planning and construction, six new pickleball courts have officially opened at Hillsborough Park in Charlottetown.

At a grand opening event Thursday evening, city officials and the Charlottetown Pickleball Club welcomed members of the public to celebrate the first dedicated pickleball courts to be built by the city. 

"Everyone can't believe how beautiful they are," said Lisa Murphy, president of the Charlottetown Pickleball Club.

The new courts are open from 9 a.m. until dusk at 199 Patterson Drive. They operate on a first-come, first-play basis.

The process to get the dedicated pickleball courts constructed at Hillsborough Park began with meetings between the city and representatives from the Charlottetown pickleball community. 

"They talked about how popular the sport is, talked about wanting to have the opportunity to play this exciting sport in the capital city," said Coun. Mitchell Tweel, chair of the parks, recreation and leisure committee.

In the city's 2024-2025 budget, councillors approved $60,000 to transition some tennis courts to pickleball courts, a move Tweel called "a huge step in the right direction.

"I know there is interest from the private sector and other interested groups looking to open up pickleball courts, not just outdoor but indoor," he said. "We believe that this is an excellent beginning for a venue for this type of sport."

Pickleball is often referred to as one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. 

A survey by Pickleball Canada showed over 1.3 million Canadians played at least once a month in 2023. That is up from about a million players in 2022, and just 350,000 in 2021.

While the sport remains popular among older adults, the survey found that the growth is coming from younger adults — particularly those aged 18 to 34.

As a dedicated pickleball player, Murphy said the new courts make playing the game much easier. She has been playing for a couple of years and has gotten used to courts that also have lines for badminton and tennis, which she says can make it hard to decipher whether a ball has landed in bounds or out. 

"I was surprised and delighted by how intense the colours are, so that you can really see the ball playing on top of the surface," Murphy said.

The Charlottetown Pickleball Club has been in operation for a year. In that time, Murphy said it has grown "so much," including both people living on the Island and visitors looking for a chance to play.