Niagara-on-the-Lake will repay its pickleball club almost $14,000 after shutting down the Virgil Sports Park courts for the 2026 outdoor season, while the future of the site — and long-term local play options — remains unsettled.
Councillors backed a $13,748.17 reimbursement to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Pickleball Club on Tuesday, for money the club contributed toward noise-reduction panels installed when the courts reopened in 2024. Council also supported a review of town zoning rules to help identify suitable locations for future pickleball courts.
Both recommendations still must be formally adopted at next week’s council meeting.
“I totally agree with the repayment,” said Coun. Gary Burroughs, also asking what the full cost of the project had been, including the town’s share.
“Approximately $23,000,” said NOTL Fire Chief Jay Plato.
The Virgil courts were ordered closed for the 2026 season after council considered the issue in February in a closed session meeting.
“Following these discussions, council directed that the courts remain closed for the 2026 outdoor season and that staff identify alternative outdoor locations to support pickleball play,” said the recommendation report.
Now, residents are being pointed to other places to play.
Staff said indoor pickleball remains available at the NOTL community centre, for public and club-reserved use. Outdoor options also exist at Queenston Heights Park, where Niagara Parks Commission operates four courts. There are also courts in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.
But the town has not picked a new municipal site.
“There is general consensus that it may be most appropriate to locate a Pickleball court a few hundred metres from a nearby residential area,” the report said.
Staff said a review of town parks found no suitable site with a 200- to 500-metre buffer that would not affect existing sports fields or amenities. But staff added that it can keep pickleball courts in mind as new parks are built or existing parks are upgraded.
Burroughs asked whether the current Virgil facility could be used again or adapted for another purpose.
Plato said the town is still weighing options.
“We’ve had a number of community members reach out, offering suggestions on what it could be turned into,” Plato said, adding staff are considering the reasons the courts were closed before weighing future options and how to address those same concerns.
He said staff expect broader direction through the upcoming parks and recreation master plan.
“Ideally, from that document forward, we could have a plan with some more conditions.”
Burroughs said he supports the idea, but questioned timing.
“I agree with this, but with such a busy workload — when do staff believe that this review might even take place?”
Chief administrative officer Nick Ruller said no immediate timeline has been set.
“The intent is just to add it to the work plan,” he said.
