Interested in learning a new, beginner-friendly sport before summer’s end? Enter pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. The casual racquet game has become a popular choice for new learners and pros alike, so we thought we’d share some spots where you can play a couple of rounds in the area. But first, let’s dive into the game itself.
What is pickleball?
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Pickleball is akin to tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played one-on-one or in doubles. It happens to be a great sport for all ages and abilities, thanks to the nature of smaller court sizes and slower playing speeds. Plus, it can be played outdoors or indoors in temporary courts like gymnasiums or community centres. So, if you’re looking for a more casual sport that can be played pretty much anywhere – pickleball is a great pick.
All you need is a pickleball paddle (in between the size of a tennis racket and a ping-pong paddle) and a whiffle ball. Fortunately, you can easily pick these up (as well as a portable net) from any sporting goods store.
Where can you play it?
Now, for the logistics. Many local community centres in Vancouver offer pickleball lessons and meet-ups, but we’ll start with the several permanent outdoor courts.
- Pandora Park, 2325 Franklin Street
- John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park, 3300 Victoria Drive
- Queen Elizabeth Park, 4600 Cambie Street
Note that starting on Monday, August 29th, the practice wall at Queen Elizabeth Park will be closed for three weeks for structural maintenance.
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Next, we have the various pop-up courts around Vancouver, courtesy of the city’s Pop-Up Pickleball Project. According to the City of Vancouver’s website, pop-up locations involve temporarily converting certain tennis courts into pickleball courts between July 14th and October 27th. Here’s where you can find ’em.
- Champlain Heights Park, August 19th to September 20th
- Andy Livingston Park, September 23rd to October 25th
- Jericho Beach Park, until October 26th
- Strathcona Park, September 24th to October 27th
And that’s all we’ve got on pickleball by way of outdoor courts, folks! You can always join a pickleball league if you’re keen on getting more official experience, or check in with your local community centre to see if they have any pickleball lessons or indoor courts available for use.
