New courts in Casselman are proof of pickleball’s popularity

In Casselman, pickleball is a big deal, and there are now more places in the community to play it.

Pickleball is played on a modified tennis court, using a tennis net, but with paddles that are slightly larger than table tennis or ping pong paddles. In recent years, it has been among the sports in North America with the fastest-growing popularity.

On Wednesday, July 31, two new public pickleball courts were officially opened on the grounds of  École secondaire catholique de Casselman. The Casselman Pickleball Committee received $150,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to construct the courts in cooperation with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO), and the Municipality of Casselman. The grant covered the cost of the entire project.  

Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, due to the cooperation between the municipality, school board, and the hard work of the pickleball committee.

“I don’t think we’d have this court if it wasn’t for you guys advocating,” Lajoie said at the opening ceremony.

Casselman Pickleball Committee President Mark McKendrick said there are 75 registered players who regularly play pickleball. In addition to the new courts beside the secondary school, there is one indoor court and three other designated outdoor courts in Casselman. The rink at the arena can also be used for pickleball when the ice is not in.

While pickleball is extremely popular with retired people, McKendrick said there are players of all ages in Casselman.

“It’s starting to gain traction,” he said.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, dedicated to building healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110 million in 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships aimed at enhancing economic well-being, promoting active lifestyles, fostering youth development, providing spaces for gathering and communication, and creating a more sustainable environment in communities across Ontario.