By David Judd
IT looks as if Turkey Point will get two new dedicated pickleball courts at its community park at the bottom of Turkey Point Road.
County councillors will vote next Wednesday on a partnership to build the courts estimated to cost $177,000.
Norfolk County would give up to $120,000, an amount council had budgeted to renovate tennis courts at the Turkey Point park.
The rest of the money would come from fundraising and contractors’ in-kind donations.
Pickleball is among Canada’s fastest growing sports.
It’s especially popular with seniors who find the game easy to play and a good way to make friends.
But not everyone is a fan.
Neighbours near pickleball courts sometimes complain about noise from paddles thwacking plastic balls and have expressed concerns about traffic, parking and the environment.
In November, councillors heard from Turkey Point’s pickleball committee urging construction of two or three professional-quality courts at the park at the bottom of the hill on Turkey Point Road.
A smaller group warned about noise and urged putting money into improving the park.
Last Tuesday council recommended proceeding with a compromise proposal of building two courts, not three, to cut risk of noise, traffic and parking problems.
The proposal also calls for noise barriers.
“Pickleball will be the quietest activity in the park,” pickleball advocate Doug Johnson told council.
Turkey Point’s volunteer pickleball committee is willing to raise $57,000 and contractor 214 Carson Co. Inc. will make in-kind donations worth $43,000 for a total of $100,000, Mr. Johnson said.
Speaking for neighbours, Rosemary Jamieson said Norfolk’s draft recreation plan—which recommends one pickleball court, one tennis court, maybe a basketball court and sound barriers—is more acceptable than earlier proposals for pickleball courts.
Charlotteville Coun. Chris Van Paassen, who represents Turkey Point, praised the compromise plan.
“I think they’ve done a good job of the sort of a balancing act between getting something new for some (people) with the least amount of problems for others,” he told a council committee meeting.
Six weeks of construction could start this spring or fall provided:
- Long Point Region Conservation Authority gives permission;
- Norfolk County approves all plans and specifications;
- Fundraising is completed under auspices of the Norfolk Community Foundation and the money is transferred to the county;
- And the county signs a contract with the contractor.
Norfolk County would own and maintain the pickleball courts.
The courts would cost $7,000 a year to operate, plus the county would set aside $18,200 each year to build up a fund for the courts’ eventual replacement.
Norfolk County had planned to replace multi-use courts in Turkey Point.
But pickleballers want proper courts with special surfaces, regulation nets and court lines.
In May, council will consider a draft recreation master plan that recommends building three proper pickleball courts in Vittoria, providing more courts at the Simcoe Recreation Centre and looking at repurposing Port Dover Arena to create indoor pickleball courts.
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Originally published April 16, 2025
