Calgary's Indoor Pickleball Desert: Northwest Players Left Out in the Cold
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Calgary is experiencing a shortage of pickleball courts due to a surge in popularity of the sport, particularly among younger players. This unexpected demand is leaving enthusiasts, including a children's daycare, struggling to find adequate playing spaces. While the city has added some outdoor pickleball courts by adapting tennis courts and building dedicated facilities, indoor options, especially in northwest Calgary, remain scarce.
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A "new wave" of pickleball players in Calgary is driving an unanticipated need for more court spaces as the sport's appeal extends to a younger demographic. Susan To, the owner of Kids Fit in Silver Springs, has witnessed this firsthand, with children as young as four years old expressing a desire to play pickleball. To introduced pickleball as a daily activity at her daycare, and it quickly became one of their most popular programs. However, the interest soon outgrew the centre's capacity, and now To has 100 young pickleball enthusiasts seeking playing time. She believes there is a need for a new centre in northwest Calgary and specifically for a junior program. Indoor pickleball courts are particularly limited in the northwest, and To has difficulty booking time at the YMCA for larger games because they are usually fully booked. She laments the lack of available courts, noting that "all the courts are opening up in the south".
The Calgary Pickleball Club has responded to the growing interest by establishing a junior program that runs in three-week sessions. Club president Cat Hackman emphasizes the club's aim to get children active and away from their phones. A government grant enabled the club to expand its program to youths aged eight to 17, with 18 kids currently participating in competitive lessons. Many of these young players are introduced to pickleball by family members or through school programs. Hackman points out that pickleball is more affordable than tennis and more accessible than badminton. She also highlights its appeal across generations, stating, "What other active sport can you see all ages of a family play together? It’s not just for your grandparents anymore". According to To, pickleball is similar to tennis, badminton, or ping-pong but has a faster learning curve. The court is about half the size of a tennis court, and players use a perforated ball, individual paddles, and a net. While it can be played in singles, it is primarily a doubles game.
The City of Calgary, according to Kaila Lagran, has been creating outdoor pickleball courts to meet the increasing demand. There are currently 160 city-operated tennis courts, most of which have been adapted for pickleball. However, the city does not operate any indoor courts. To further address the demand, the city added 12 new dedicated pickleball courts at Foothills Athletic Park last year, and pickleball-only courts are also located at Walgrove Park in the southeast. Several community associations also maintain pickleball courts across the city. The City of Calgary is planning a recreation and sport participation and demand study this year to identify initiatives to expand pickleball opportunities. To remains committed to fostering the sport's growth, having discovered pickleball during the COVID-19 quarantine and built a court at her daycare in 2022. She notes the enthusiasm of the children, saying, "I thought pickleball was only for old people. But the kids love it". Parents have even requested family pickleball nights at the daycare, but the lack of nearby indoor spaces limits these options. Although Fit Kids currently has only one court, To plans to build more in the coming months.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The article clearly indicates a significant shift in the perception of pickleball in Calgary, moving beyond its association with older adults to become a popular activity among young people. This surge in youth participation presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in fostering a lifelong engagement with sports and building a strong foundation for pickleball's future. However, the challenge is the evident shortage of suitable playing facilities, particularly indoor courts, which are crucial for year-round play in Calgary's climate. The fact that a daycare owner is struggling to find court time and that the existing YMCA courts are fully booked highlights the urgency of addressing this infrastructure gap. The city's efforts to adapt tennis courts and build dedicated outdoor facilities are a positive step, but the lack of indoor options, especially in the northwest, needs to be addressed to fully capitalize on the growing enthusiasm for the sport among all age groups. The planned recreation study is a welcome initiative and should provide valuable insights into future needs. Ultimately, Calgary needs a more comprehensive strategy for pickleball court development to accommodate its burgeoning and increasingly youthful player base.