Pickleball court demand high in Uxbridge

Justyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Get your rackets ready, it’s pickleball season! And while plans are in the works for new outdoor pickleball and tennis courts at the Fields of Uxbridge, Uxbridge’s pickleball league, run by Elevation Athletics is still feeling maxed out.

The local league says it has seen great involvement from Uxbridge players, so much so that they are almost constantly fully registered, with a waitlist.

“It’s just such a great sport for all ages,” says district coordinator Rob Miller. “It’s low impact but it gets your heart rate up, and it’s just so much fun.”

Along with their regular league games, Miller says they run Learn To Play programs.

“People will come in with flat out zero racket experience and within 90 minutes all four courts will be, more or less, playing games.”

Miller says that while Elevation Athletics would love to add more programming to facilitate the demand, they have run out of space to add to their schedule.

The league currently plays out of Scott Central Public School and Uxbridge Secondary School gymnasiums, where the courts are already lined, as pickleball follows the same court as badminton.

“We’re kind of at the mercy of the school board and what permits they issue,” says Miller. “The Elevation Athletics office is actively pursuing the Uxbridge Township for space at the arena, community centre, and seniors’ centre this summer.”

When asked about the progress of township indoor courts, councillor Zed Pickering said that once the ice is removed, courts will be set up for the season.

“Jamie and Chris at the arena will be providing information soon on the return of the drop-in programming for pickleball,” said Pickering.

Last week, the Township announced it had approved construction of new pickleball and tennis courts at the Fields Of Uxbridge, estimated to be complete by mid-2025.

“These improvements emerge in response to public feedback requesting the implementation of new permanent courts,” says a news release from the Township. “The Township received positive feedback and participation from the temporary indoor pickleball courts established in the Arena last summer, and the Township anticipates significant utilization of the new outdoor courts.”

“Our group doesn't like outdoor courts because we get into issues with rain outs, and if the courts aren’t constantly managed we don’t want to run into problems with permitting, for example, if we were to get there and the courts were in use by others who we have to kick out,” says Miller. “But they’re definitely great to practice on. I’d maybe like to see pickleball lines on the current tennis courts so they could be dual purpose.”

The Uxbridge programming is currently full, but Miller says the waitlist is open for sign up at elevationathletics.ca