Like other jurisdictions in Greater Victoria, Saanich is responding to the challenge posed by the rapid increase in pickleball in our parks system, while balancing other park users’ needs.
Public Consultation and Research
In order to make informed decisions, Saanich contributed to a study developed by a consultant to analyze the demands and challenges of pickleball, and learn how to best manage the sport. The Pickleball Strategy for Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt 2024 is complete and may be seen here.
Parks has carefully reviewed the Strategy and consulted with representatives of the tennis and pickleball communities. These conversations, together with additional site investigations, led to the proposed pickleball and tennis court locations and layouts that were presented at a public Open House on September 24, 2024. The event was well-attended, and 598 people completed a related questionnaire, see the results here.
After the Open House, staff modified the proposals to reflect feedback from the public event and to optimize value to the community. The final plans for outdoor pickleball in Saanich parks are:
Final Plans
Shared-court conversions at Copley West, Hampton and Rosedale Parks
These three parks currently have two shared pickleball/tennis courts each.
Rationale: Consultation reveals strong preference by both user-groups for dedicated, separated courts. Different styles and length of play, and lack of guaranteed court use are cited as reasons for this preference. Also, because tennis courts are much larger than pickleball courts, it is an inefficient use of space to use an entire tennis court to play pickleball. The shared courts at these parks are proposed to be converted to one dedicated tennis court, and two dedicated pickleball courts as shown:
Conversions at Copley West, Hampton and Rosedale
Because it will cost a significant amount of money to convert (re-surface and/or paint) existing shared courts to this configuration we want to make sure they will work before we complete all three. This conversion will be trialed at Copley West Park in 2026. Copley West was chosen for the trial because of lack of complaints, and the slope above the courts absorbs sound.
The trial’s success will be determined by interviewing tennis and pickleball players at regular intervals to assess: whether sport quality can be preserved; if fencing separation between courts is required; and if the players’ experience supports expanding the model to other locations (Hampton and Rosedale Parks).
When: Trial at Copley West in 2026. Implement at others in 2027 – 2028 if successful.
Fowler Park
Previously undeveloped land, Fowler Park is under construction and will provide six dedicated pickleball courts and one dedicated tennis court when it is complete.
Rationale: Fowler Park has the separation from homes, trail access and ample parking that enables it to be a pickleball hub. Additional grading and berming will further ensure that the sport does not disturb neighbours.
When: While every effort will be made to complete the courts in 2025, the firm opening date is 2026.
Majestic Park
This park currently has one shared pickleball/tennis court, which will remain as-is until the six new pickleball courts at Fowler are complete.
Rationale: Pickleball is popular and tolerated in this neighbourhood, despite the fact that the court is close to homes. Alternate courts at McMinn Park will likely be more available when the courts at Fowler Park are complete, and removing the pickleball lines from the Majestic court will be considered at that time.
When: Leave as-is till Fowler complete, then reassess.
McMinn Park
This park currently has two dedicated pickleball courts, and two shared courts. Parks will add sound mitigation and convert them to one dedicated tennis and four dedicated pickleball courts, and a community-funded shelter will be available to all park users, as shown below:
McMinn Court Layout
Rationale: Consultation feedback indicated a strong preference for even more pickleball courts, but noise levels and increased parking congestion are concerns. The new pickleball courts at Fowler Park are expected to alleviate pressure here, and four dedicated courts are appropriate for this location.
When: Tentatively 2026.
Prospect Lake Park
Currently has two shared pickleball/tennis courts and will be left as-is.
Rationale: Consultation indicates that this remote location is not ideal. However, it has good separation from neighbours and may be considered for additional courts in future if the additional courts coming to McMinn and Fowler Paks, and elsewhere in the region, are insufficient to meet demand.
When: Leave as-is.
Tolmie Park
Currently has two dedicated pickleball courts, and one dedicated tennis court. The pickleball courts will be decommissioned when courts are opened at Fowler Park, and the paved surface will be repurposed. Residents in the vicinity of Tolmie Park will be invited to participate in an exercise in late 2025 to decide how to use the space.
Rationale: These were the first outdoor pickleball courts constructed in the Saanich parks system. They are very close to adjacent homes and have proven to have a negative impact on residents’ ability to use and enjoy their property. The matter was taken to Saanich Council in 2022, and Parks has committed to decommissioning the courts upon completion of Fowler Park.
When: Public consultation will take place in 2025, pickleball courts will be decommissioned and repurposed in 2026.
Reserving Outdoor Courts
Paddles-In
This casual method of reserving a turn on the court has been successful in the City of Victoria and is being trialed at McMinn Park. It will be introduced at other dedicated pickleball courts if it is successful.
Booking
A court booking system will be trialed at Fowler Park in 2026 which will allow for paid reservations by both clubs and individuals. More information about the system will be available here in the fall of 2025.
Dedicated Courts Increase
Once all improvements are implemented, both tennis and pickleball will enjoy a significant increase in dedicated courts. Pickleball courts will remain available at Copley West, Hampton, Majestic, McMinn, Prospect Lake, Rosedale, and Tolmie Parks through 2025.
Tennis
Note that only those locations where tennis courts could be impacted by pickleball were included in this investigation, tennis courts exist in some parks that are not shown here. Click here to see a complete list of tennis facilities in Saanich.