Plans for another rally outside of City Hall on June 10th in advance of that evening’s City Council meeting are underway, according to a press release from the Coalition for Bonnerworth Park.

The rally comes as media report that the former chair of the Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (APRAC) resigned due to concerns about the amount of consultation done by the City in the process of planning for the redevelopment. 

Deemed the “Rally for Answers”, the group is inviting members of the community to gather at 5:30 at City Hall on Monday to demand answers to a growing list of questions, 16 of which are included in the press release. 

“I don't think they did any research; I don't think they did any homework on what other communities are doing,” media contact for the Coalition, D’Arcy Jenish, told Arthur in an interview.

Jenish has looked at other Ontario municipalities to see how they are approaching pickleball infrastructure and is concerned that this project could “create the biggest pickleball complex in Ontario that could be a complete white elephant ten years from now.” 

“The largest complex in Ontario was 12 courts in Hamilton,” he said, referring to the group of courts available at Hamilton’s Confederation Beach Park. According to the City of Hamilton’s website, five of those are currently closed for repair as the 2024 season begins, which leads Jenish to another point which is the future cost to repair and maintain the courts. 

“Are the pickleballers going to have to contribute to the cost of this, because if you're using any sports facilities here, the city is always capital and using charges,” Jenish continued. “And so there's all these things that are unanswered and they don't want it—they're not forthcoming with answers.”

On May 31st, the City released a statement on Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus Parks which provides a timeline of the events leading up to Council’s approval of the plans.

“The Bonnerworth Park and Knights of Columbus Park projects are about investing in and rejuvenating those community parks that are already used for active outdoor recreation purposes, as part of a larger plan for outdoor recreation facilities throughout the city,” the City’s statement reads in part.  

However, the root of Jenish’s issues is the investment in what he refers to as an “emerging sport” which is primarily played by middle-aged residents and retirees and his concerns that there is no guarantee that the sport will continue to grow among youths. 

“I think the people who play pickleball, you know, they’re middle aged and up. I think it's a very popular sport with retirees, because it's an easy game to play,” Jenish continued. “But if you want to sustain 16 courts on a long term basis, you've got to grow the sport…And I know they're trying to do that, but that's no sure thing. Kids will take it up and then drop it, so I just think it's a real big gamble on an emerging sport.”

During an April 8th Council meeting, Councillors heard from representatives of the Peterbough Pickleball Association (PPA) and members of the wider community who suggested that the sport’s fastest growing demographic is among youths aged 24 and under. 

“I'm continually surprised and delighted to see so many young people taking up the sport in the city,” Jennie Davis, a pickleball coach, consultant and player told Councillors at the April 8th meeting. However, Davis added that with this growth there continues to be a waitlist at all existing pickleball facilities in the City, with court availability becoming an issue for players in Peterborough.

Likewise, the City’s statement suggests that “Pickleball is a well established sport in Canada and growing presence in Peterborough. It is a low-cost sport that is being embraced by all ages and all socio-economic groups.” 

Council’s decision to build the lit 16 courts at Bonnerworth while also converting the 4 existing courts at Knights of Columbus Park to tennis courts comes in response to a Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities study which was received and approved by Councillors in October. The study notes that the City currently has a shortfall of 17.5 pickleball courts based on its current population. Looking into the future, the report suggests that a further 18 courts will be needed to keep up with demand when the City reaches a population of 136,000.

The budgetary commitment involved in the redevelopment of both parks was further confirmed by Councillors during budget talks in November and passed as part of the 2024 City Budget on December 11th, allowing for a total of $4.4M to be spent on the new facilities at Bonnerworth between 2024 and 2025 and a further $3.42M to be spent on Knights of Columbus Park in the same time period.

The other aspects of the Bonnerworth redevelopment include a bike pump track and a renovated skateboard park. The City plans to remove the two diamonds currently on the property and are looking at renovating three existing diamonds at Crestwood High School, Barnardo Park, and Stacey Green Park in order to maintain available diamonds in the City.

Personally, Jenish would like to see the existing four tennis courts Bonnerworth made into eight pickleball courts while maintaining at least one baseball diamond. He, like many of the people involved in the Save Bonnerworth group, are supportive of the bike track and renovated skatepark. 

Maintaining the baseball diamond would allow for students and teachers at St. Peter’s Secondary School to continue using the property for outdoor education, he explained. 

“Everyone would have a piece of the park and you’d be preserving as much greenspace as possible,” he said. “It would be a far better solution and if the pickleball community continues to grow, as they think it will, then, hey, you can add some more pickleball courts somewhere else.”

But, he added “you don't need to plop 16 all in one place at one time.” 

At this point, however, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. 

While the details are still left up to staff to figure out in final site plans following a variety of tests and studies, the major aspects of the redevelopments are set due to Council’s direction. 

“The first phases of the Parks master plan are approved and underway—as directed unanimously by Council,” Co-Chair of Arenas, Parks and Recreation, Lesley Parnell said when reached for comment. 

“I am one of eleven unanimous votes on the master plan and the budget,” she continued, stating that while she views the original fit plan presented on March 21st as “regrettable” she contends that “the final site plan and sports park, when developed will be much, much better.”