Author: Estha Parg Murenbeeld

UPDATE: The Mayor withdrew this proposal before it went to WV Council.

March 9, 2025

To West Vancouver Mayor and Council,

Re: Sport Court Fees

Congratulations again on the four new excellent courts at Ambleside.  While only open since October, these courts are much appreciated.  Maintenance by volunteers all winter have made them accessible in all but the worst weather, keeping seniors and others active. 

Since the announcement of this fee proposal, I have received expressions of shock and sorrow from pickleball players.

1. That the friendly, community-building drop-in culture of outdoor pickleball is being eliminated at Ambleside;
2. That there might be fees on outdoor courts where overhead is so much lower;
3. That the replacement courts for the 29^th St. location are not as promised;
4. That the community hasn’t been canvassed on this issue;
5. That those who sweep, squeegee and otherwise voluntarily care for the courts, keeping it open and available for play for many more days, are being dismissed;
6. That a “trial” must run an entire summer, May to October, from sunup to sundown;
7. That despite pickleball’s culture of inclusivity, West Vancouver would exclude community partners like North Vancouver.

Fees and Booking

While on paper the proposed fee seems not excessive, may I remind Council and staff that you have a ParticiPaction-winning community of healthy seniors here, who all look forward to summer outdoor play, often 4 to 6 times a week.  To longtime taxpaying seniors, this cost for an outdoor facility is excessive and an affront.

They remind me that these four courts are the replacement that was promised when the 29^th St. pickleball courts were closed in 2021.

For players, online booking is painful and something everyone is happy to be done with after the winter season.  For your booking system it will be a huge added challenge to process, not just the additional hundreds of reservations weekly, but also the refunds when the weather turns.

The alternative: the less accessible, must drive to Normanby courts, and North Vancouver courts where all have been welcomed all along.  Players will go where there’s a community of players, not just empty courts. 

You may have heard that Sport Court fees are under consideration in North Vancouver.  That is for club-permitted time and not general public play.  In recognition of the community service provided by the clubs, the hourly court rate is expected to be far less than that proposed in this bylaw.

Outstanding Questions

• How can youth drop in during the summer holiday months?   Youth are readily incorporated into the game by adult players and are becoming among our best! 
• What about the costs to WV Parks for staffing the courts and cleaning and drying them on a daily basis?
• How do new players get welcomed to the sport and get helped with the learning curve?  Experienced players who welcome newbies into the next rotation are teaching the culture that makes pickleball so attractive.
• Isn’t it too early to worry about over-demand?  Many new locations are very busy at prime times until players better assess demand patterns and find playing times and alternate locations that work for them.
• What will be the impact of new courts coming to Capilano Mall this summer?  The District of North Vancouver is also exploring the addition of more courts.

Club Hosting

Is there a place for club-hosted play like that provided at 29^th St prior to the pandemic?  The NSPC is once again offering to host at few hours a week at Ambleside.   Club volunteers would:

• Provide a welcoming presence at the courts and ensure that beginners and others alike have an enjoyable experience.
• eliminate the need for paid WV staff for the hours of the club permit,
• Continue to offer cleaning care to the courts,
• Pay a fee to West Vancouver for those hours of permitted play,
• Place an AED at the court during the summer season.

NSPC membership is only $15 annually for youth and seniors aged 80+ and provides insurance.  Hundreds of West Vancouver residents are or have been members.

We hope the many costs of this proposal to the pickleball community is clearer now and that this Sport Court Fee proposal is rejected.

Estha Parg Murenbeeld

On behalf of the North Shore Pickleball Club