Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors agree to reopen Virgil pickleball courts
The town and pickleball club were fined $1,000 each for violating a noise bylaw
After two years of silence, Centennial Sports Park will host the sounds of pickleball beginning in the middle of June.
“Everybody is very, very happy,” said John Hindle, president of Niagara-on-the-Lake Pickleball Club. “It has been a long two years.”
Niagara-on-the-Lake town councillors, during their April 16 committee of the whole meeting, agreed to reopen the outdoor pickleball courts on June 17, two years after the town and the club were convicted and fined $1,000 each in 2022 by Provincial Court justice of the peace Mary Shelly for violating the town’s noise bylaw.
They were taken to court by Lambert Walk resident Oana Scafesi, a resident living next to the Virgil Sports Park.
Earlier this year council approved an amendment to the town’s noise bylaw that exempted recreation activities on town-owned properties.
“This has been a really terrible journey, to through this closing of the pickleball courts,” said Coun. Wendy Cheropita. “A lot of people in the community are going to be very happy to see this report come through.”
Coun. Sandra O’Connor, though, introduced a motion to hold at least one public meeting with area residents about the reopening before the June date.
“We need to engage with our residents to let them know,” she said.
But Deputy Lord Mayor Edwin Wiens said “there has been enough engagement.”
“We have done a lot of engagement. We support pickleball.”
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa agreed it isn’t necessary to hold another public meeting on the issue.
O’Connor’s amendment lost in a 5-4 vote.
Interim chief administrative officer Bruce Zvaniga said the town’s community staff will conduct a “comprehensive community strategy” to inform the residents about council’s decision to reopen the courts.
Councillors will vote on the recommendation during their April 30 meeting.
A portion of the noise bylaw conviction included a two-year probation, applying only to playing pickleball at Centennial Sports Park, that will be lifted on June 15. The town closed the courts in April 2022 when the charges were laid.
To help muffle the sound of pickleball play, both the town and the club have agreed to pay for acoustic panels that will be installed at the court and use noise-reduction paddles.
Kevin Turcott, manager of parks and recreation, said the barriers are composed of hard plastic “that will (hang) from the top of the fence to the bottom.” He said the material will reflect and absorb the sound from the courts.
“It will reflect most of the sound back into the sports park and away from the residents,” he said.
Hindle said the club has also been experimenting with soft paddles to reduce noise.
The sports park will be open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Councillors agreed to transfer $10,000 from a reserve account to help pay for the barriers. The town has applied for an Ontario Trillium grant of $32,000 for the project.
Despite not playing at the sports park, Hindle said the club has continued to grow its membership to where it is currently about 650 people.
“We cannot stop the (number of people signing up),” said Hindle. “It is staggering.”
He said members have been playing at Centennial Community Centre on York Road and Centennial Arena in Virgil.
Hindle said pickleball has become a fast-growing sport that is being played by people aged about 15 to 85. He said his club has several members older than 80.
“The sport has been known to help people exercise, reduce weight and address mental-health issues,” he said. “It has become such a social game.”