An indoor pickleball club in Penticton is staying at its current home for at least three more years.
The Peach City Indoor Pickleball Club and City of Penticton agreed Tuesday, Jan. 16, to renew an operational lease at 199 Ellis Street, following council鈥檚 approval.
With two pickleball courts, the 7,800 square feet facility has been home to the club since 2020 and serves as a hub for Penticton鈥檚 Emergency Support Services (ESS).
The club will operate the building at a monthly rate of $3,598 plus GST, per the agreement, which also includes a two-year renewal option.
Pickleball 鈥� described by Coun. James Miller as a 鈥渉ot commodity鈥� 鈥� has become increasingly popular in Penticton for both indoor and outdoor players over the last few years. It is known today as North America鈥檚 fastest-growing sport.
The president of the Penticton Pickleball Club even told council in July 2023 that the city needs more courts to meet the growing demand for the sport locally.
Funded by players fees and sponsorships, the Peach City Indoor Pickleball Club has spent more than $29,000 on improvements to the Ellis Street 鈥淏ike Barn鈥� building since it began running day-to-day operations:
鈥� Floor preparation- $12,879
鈥� Court fencing, nets and posts- $5,775
鈥� Site preparation (electronic door lock, painting, floor surfacing)- $4,678
鈥� Furniture and equipment (pickleball machine, vacuum cleaner, tables, chairs)- $6,425
The city will continue to be responsible for the major building systems, security and the surrounding grounds, the renewed agreement states.
鈥淭he Pickleball Club will continue to co-exist and work around the needs of ESS,鈥� staff wrote to council. 鈥淚n the event that ESS needs to activate its emergency center during the term that pickleball is utilizing the Bus Barn, the Pickleball Club is prepared to provide ESS with immediate full access to the building.鈥�
Back on the court, indoor pickleball enthusiasts in Penticton play their season from Nov. 1 to May 1.
The facility welcomed more than 12,600 player visits in the past season, city officials said.
Usage 鈥� with two courts available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day 鈥� currently sits at 94 per cent.
