Pickleball Court Development
The City of Medicine Hat has seen tremendous growth in the sport of pickleball throughout the community. To better accommodate the sport and future tournaments, the Parks and Recreation Department is looking to develop a centralized pickleball facility.
In 2015, the City painted pickleball lines on the two tennis courts located at Lions Park. This created two tennis courts and eight pickleball courts the public could utilize, with portable nets.
In 2018, resurfacing work was completed at two previously tennis-only courts, including McCoy High School and Ross Glen. Each location has been converted to accommodate four dedicated pickleball courts and one dedicated tennis court.
Lions Park is being considered as a designated pickleball facility for the following reasons:
- Two existing tennis courts with pickleball lines painted on playing surface
- Location is scheduled for court rehabilitation/enhancement
- Room for existing court expansion to USAPA standards
- Medicine Hat Pickleball Club has submitted an application for $125,000 CFEP provincial grant funding to assist in the upgrade
- Pickleball players frequently utilizing all eight courts
- Washrooms, other facilities close by
- Best alternative for off-street parking
A court conversion at Lions Park could see eight dedicated pickleball courts.
Lions Park would be a public pickleball facility, with available booking times for programming or other.
The City continues to look at other locations around Medicine Hat, including South Ridge, Southview and Osbourne, to continue growing the sport.
