The Bonnerworth redevelopment project is moving forward as planned following a final vote of Council on April 8th. The $4.4M redevelopment which includes 16 pickleball courts, a skatepark expansion, and a pump bike track has been the topic of community unrest and debate at Council since plans for the park were revealed to the public just prior to a March 21st consultation session. 

Community members and Councillors have repeatedly expressed concerns about the loss of public open greenspace in proximity to the downtown core, noise concerns for nearby residents, as well as the apparent lack of public consultation and Council oversight over the plans.

A motion to consider alternatives to the plan—specifically regarding the use of space for pickleball—put forward by staff from Councillor Joy Lachica was not recommended by Councillors at a General Committee meeting last week,a decision which would be ratified during Monday’s Council meeting.

On April 8th, Council heard delegations from 10 members of the public on the topic of the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, including three members of the Peterborough Pickleball Association (PPA) who focused on the growing interest in the sport across varied demographics as well as the physical and social benefits of the sport.

Jennie Davis, who identified herself as a “Pickleball Community Leader” outlined her experience “travelling all over North America coaching, consulting, and competing.”

“In all my travels, I have never seen a pickleball community so active, inclusive, kind and community driven as the Peterborough pickleball community,” Davis said while suggesting the sport has grown on 200% in the last three years and that most of that growth is among people under 24 years of age.

“The reason Pickleball has become so popular is because it's easy to play,” she continued. “It's inexpensive. It's incredibly social due to court size. As an activity it definitely supports good physical and mental health.”

When asked by Councillor Alex Bierk to point to large pickleball developments within close proximity to residential areas in other cities, Davis was unable to beyond developments in communities such as Saugeen Shores where 16 courts have been built and Honey Harbour where six are being fundraised for—neither of which are located beside residential areas.

However, the problem for Davis in answering Bierk’s question has to do with the sport’s novelty.

“The issue is that this is an exceptionally burgeoning, burgeoning sport and so we're actually at the forefront of building courts to meet the demand of the community,” she explained. 

President of the PPA, Shelley Moloney noted that while the association has 400 members, she told Council on Monday evening that there’s “probably 1,200 people in the City that play [pickleball] on a regular basis” all of whom are attempting to make use of the 10 outdoor courts currently available in Peterborough at Knights of Columbus Park and the existing make-shift courts available at Bonnerworth.

“People are currently driving outside the city to find available courts,” Moloney said. “There was many occasions last year at the Knights of Columbus, where people left out of frustration because of the wait time between games, only to drive over to Bonnerworth and experience the same sort of thing.”

Councillor Keith Riel, who has been vocal in his opposition to the project moving forward without further Council oversight, pushed Moloney to clarify the number of pickleball courts available in the City. 

Based on the PPA’s own website, there are over 20 available to the public when indoor courts at the Wellness Centre, YMCA, Activity Haven, and local schools are accounted for, a fact Moloney confirmed as “probably accurate” when pushed by Riel.

Later, Bierk would also ask Moloney to clarify the number of available courts within the City, prompting Moloney to reply that the real trouble is due to pickleball players’ wish to be able to play outside as well as some of the dangers of playing the sport in some of the inside facilities. 

“My whole focus has been on outdoor courts, there's a big difference between outdoor and indoor,” Moloney explained. “Most people once that weather hits, people can't wait to get outside. They've been stuck inside all winter and they're not great courts, I'll be honest with you.” 

“Playing at the [YMCA], yeah, it's okay; there's not a lot of space in between, balls are flying in,” she went on. “It's dangerous. I’m surprised somebody hasn’t sprained their ankle or got hit with a ball—and the wood floors aren't ideal—that's kind of what we're dealing with.”

Mayor Jeff Leal, who earlier in the meeting vaguely apologized to Council members and the public for his “intemperate” remarks directed at Councillor Bierk at last week’s general committee meeting during discussion on the same motion, asked Moloney about the perception of pickleball as an “elitist, country club type Sport.”

“That couldn't be further from the truth,” Moloney said. “I mean, like I said, [PPA members] paid $20 for a membership and to play, you need a paddle.”

“You can't even compare it to a golf club or a curling club. I mean, those are expensive sports. This is one of the cheapest sports I believe I've ever played. So it can embrace people from all socioeconomic groups, but particularly those that can't afford to sign up for hockey, or, you know, horseback riding or dance.”

When it came time to debate on the motion, Councillor Lachica framed her opposition to moving forward with the 16 courts at the Bonnerworth site as intended through the lens of process, environment, and accessibility all of which “are very important to the ratepayer of this City.”

“Feasibility of this site for 16 pickleball courts has not yet been finally determined through a noise study or traffic study to validate its approval,” Lachica said. “I ask Council: What are we saying to our residents, to these ratepayers, who are constituents, and not taking a minute to reassess, for this aspect of an important and expensive Bonnerworth project.”

Bierk again spoke to his support for taking time to pause the development of Bonnerworth, stating that “the project as it stands lacks the connection it so desperately needs.” 

“I don't buy the urgency to get this done,” Bierk said. “We need to pause for thoughtful reflection, so we can engage in a renewed dialogue with the community. Together let us ensure that the redevelopment of Bonnerworth symbolizes a shared vision of a vibrant inclusive and sustainable future for all Peterborough residents.”

However, Lesley Parnell spoke directly against pressing that pause button, speaking in line with what would ultimately be the will of the majority of Councillors. 

“I'm having deja vu, big time,” Parnell said. “It seems every time we want to do something fantastic for our community it results in controversy. But at the end of the day, once the project is complete, it's loved.”

Citing examples such as the Ashburnham Dog Park, the Fleming Fields, the Holy Cross Fields, as well as the lengthy discussion and debate over the twin pads arena.

“It’s been a long time coming. The research has been done. We know we don't have a huge amount of land—we are land strapped as we all know, as we look for employment lands—staff have done an absolutely incredible job of getting us to this point.”

Mayor Leal would also take some time to address allegations that he has a conflict of interest in advocating for the pickleball development given that his wife, Karan, is a member of the PPA—an allegation which he called “spurious.”

“Let me be clear. I am not a pickleball player. I'm not a member of the Peterborough pickleball Association. And I never received any amount of money from the Peterborough pickleball Association,” Leal said

“My wife is a pickleball player and she is one of the 300-plus members of the PPA. She has never received money from anyone. She is not an elected representative and can choose whatever hobbies or interests she chooses. This is 2024 to suggest that I have a conflict because she plays Pickleball is most absurd.”

While speaking, Leal also attempted to ignore a point of order from Councillor Lachica who was curious if the Mayor was implying anyone from Council had suggested he had a conflict to which the Mayor responded that the allegation came in the form of an email.

Lachica’s motion to consider alternative tennis and pickleball solutions was ultimately voted down 8-3 with Bierk, Lachica, and Riel supporting it.