Dear editor:
Since the original closure of the Virgil pickleball courts in 2023, their reopening in 2025, and their final closure in 2026, Niagara-on-the-Lake council has repeatedly discussed finding a suitable location to rebuild the courts and provide both the general public and the pickleball community with a place to play.
To date, however, no action has been taken to move this forward.
That is why the current Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund opportunity deserves serious consideration.
The fund is a $500-million Ontario government program that provides funding to municipalities for the construction of new facilities and improvements to existing recreation infrastructure.
This year may also be the final opportunity for NOTL to qualify for special consideration that could provide up to 70 per cent provincial funding of eligible project costs, rather than the standard 50 per cent.
With that opportunity available, why not think bigger?
Rather than submitting an application only for the St. Davids pool, the town should also investigate an application for a dedicated indoor pickleball facility — or, explore whether the two could become part of one integrated recreation project.
An indoor facility would not replace the importance of outdoor recreation. It would complement it by providing something NOTL currently does not have: a year-round place for residents to play pickleball, regardless of rain, wind, heat or cold.
Pickleball has become an important part of our community’s recreational life. A dedicated indoor facility could support residents of all ages and abilities, provide year-round programming and potentially generate revenue through memberships, tournaments, lessons and other activities.
There are several questions worth exploring now:
Could an indoor facility be located near the new St. Davids pool?
Could an existing town asset, such as the former Virgil pickleball site, be repurposed?
Could the town work with the local pickleball community to develop a partnership model?
Could the pool and an indoor pickleball facility be incorporated into a larger, multi-use recreation complex?
A combined recreation project could create a significant community hub serving residents throughout the year. Shared parking, utilities, staffing and programming could create operational efficiencies, while a larger facility could support youth programs, seniors’ recreation, fitness, aquatics, pickleball tournaments and other community events.
It could also have tourism and economic benefits. A modern recreation complex could attract regional tournaments, training camps and events, bringing visitors and additional spending to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Most importantly, it would allow the town to address two important recreation needs while taking advantage of provincial funding that may cover a significant portion of eligible costs.
The Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund supports major new-build projects of up to $10 million. That makes this an opportunity worth investigating — not after another funding window has closed, but now.
NOTL has an opportunity to think beyond simply replacing what was lost in Virgil. We can look at what our community will need five, 10 and 20 years from now and build recreation infrastructure that serves residents year-round.
The questions before council are straightforward: What is possible? What could it cost? What partnerships could make it work? And what provincial funding could help make it happen?
These questions deserve answers before the fund’s Dec. 22 deadline.
Let’s make sure that several years from now, we are not looking back and asking why NOTL failed to pursue an opportunity that was right in front of us.
Ron Pychel
Virgil
