Item - 2023.IE4.5

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the scope of work for three new planned tennis court complexes with lights in the South, East and North Districts, in the 2023 Council Approved Capital Budget and 2024 - 2032 Capital Plan for Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to include the development of new purpose built, stand-alone pickleball courts with lights:

a.  Facilities Master Plan - Tennis Court Pickleball Complex with Lights (1) South

b.  Facilities Master Plan - Tennis Court Pickleball Complex with Lights (1) East

c.  Facilities Master Plan - Tennis Court Pickleball Complex with Lights (1) North

2. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report back, as part of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan and 5-Year Review, on how the City is providing introductory pickleball opportunities through outreach, programming and access to affordable equipment in City parks and recreation facilities.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to establish a divisional stakeholder advisory group to guide policy and program-related decisions for pickleball in the City of Toronto, similar to the Toronto Tennis Liaison Committee, and to ensure an accessible mix of programs and permits for all ages.

Interest in pickleball, an indoor/outdoor paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, continues to grow. This report outlines the City's approach to accommodating this fast-growing sport, including a review of the demand, distribution and scheduling of pickleball courts in the City of Toronto parks and community recreation centres. The report also identifies future opportunities to support pickleball, including mechanisms to permit pickleball on underutilized flat surfaces in 2023.

In response to increasing demand, the City has expanded outdoor courts from one to 165 over the last five years. With the addition of more than 30 new outdoor courts (either shared with other sports or dedicated to pickleball), this total will reach nearly 200 by the end of 2023. Pickleball programming is now offered in more than 50 community recreation centres across Toronto.

This report also recommends amending the scope of work for three new tennis court complex projects in Parks, Forestry and Recreation's 2023-2032 Council Approved Capital Budget and Plan to include dedicated pickleball courts, located in North York, Scarborough and Toronto-East York. A purpose built dedicated pickleball court complex in Centennial Park has also been identified through the Centennial Park Master Plan, and will be delivered as part of the plan's implementation.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff continue to assess demand of this growing sport by measuring indoor attendance, tracking requests for new courts and evaluate under-used public tennis courts in areas with access to alternative tennis court locations for conversion to pickleball courts. Pickleball court lines will also continue to be painted onto outdoor hard surfaces based on demonstrated demand.

Starting in 2023, as part of the Facilities Master Plan Five Year Review, staff will review the need for further pickleball provision across Toronto.