Chatham-Kent councillors are expected to make a decision on where 10 pickleball courts will go at their council meeting on Monday.
The recommendation from administration is to build two at Centennial Park in Blenheim, two at Ross Babcock Park- Erikson Arena in Chatham, two at Jackson Park in Dresden, two at Memorial Park in Tilbury, and two at Steinhoff Park-Tennis Courts in Wallaceburg.
A report going before council Monday evening stated that staff used community need, current recreational assets in communities, and the existence of organized pickleball groups to determine where the courts should go. A survey was also conducted.
"Staff analyzed the community engagement and determined that there was a high demand to have the pickleball courts spread throughout Chatham-Kent instead of having the majority of courts in Chatham," wrote Director of Parks and Recreation Rob Pollock. "Preference for the communities of Blenheim and Tilbury were prevalent in the general comments given in the survey."
The President of the Chatham-Kent Pickleball Club, Keith Baxter, previously said the courts should be centralized, perhaps next to the St. Clair College Health Plex in Chatham to get the maximum benefit and more bang for the buck. Baxter said a central location would also allow them to host tournaments.
Baxter said there are about 100 pickleball club members in the municipality.
Pollock said Chatham could see another six courts in the future with further grant funding or fundraising by community groups.
The municipality also applied for and got a provincial grant of $419,000, but it came with some strings attached. The courts have to be built new and on municipal property and the money could not be used to revitalize existing courts.
The municipality also kicked in $125,000 to build the courts.