North Saanich opts to close Wain Park pickleball courts

North Saanich council has decided to permanently close pickleball courts at Wain Park rather than invest in sound-reduction measures.

Despite residents’ heavy use of the courts, and district staff providing a suite of sound-mitigation options for consideration, council voted 5-1 Monday night to shut down the two courts as of May 7.

The courts are backed by a field, and across from Birch Road, where there are about half a dozen residences.

Mayor Peter Jones said the courts, which were built in 2017, are in the wrong location.

“My belief is that open courts in North Saanich simply don’t work because of the noise. And if there is noise-mitigation available, it’s extremely expensive,” he said. “I would not like to come to our residents and ask them to fork over more cash, particularly for the Wain Park facility.”

The only councillor to vote against the motion was Jack McClintock, who said he doesn’t agree with taking recreational facilities away from residents.

“I think that we would be doing a disservice to the community, to the pickleball community and to residents at large to close a facility like this” with no suitable alternative in place, he said.

“I think it’s kind of unprecedented. I don’t know of any place that would’ve done something like this.”

Jones noted there are several other courts on the Saanich Peninsula that residents can use for pickleball, and that having enclosed courts set up in the right place would be in the best interest of all residents.

Neighbours of the Wain Park courts have been complaining for years about the noise generated by the game, which has caused problems in other areas of Greater Victoria

In 2022, Victoria banned pickleball from Todd Park in James Bay due to noise complaints from nearby residents, and players were relocated to tennis courts at Central Park near the Crystal Pool.

Oak Bay moved pickleball from courts at Carnarvon Park inside an enclosed lacrosse box that had sound barriers installed on fencing around the court.

In Langford, a 15,000-squarefoot Victoria Pickleball Centre opened last month at 136-2950 Westshore Parkway.

The facility has six courts, is open seven days a week and offers clinics, drop-in play as well as reserved courts.