Growing pickleball demand prompts council review of Lansdowne court space

Pickleball players in Lansdowne are one step closer to expanded court space after township council heard a delegation highlighting the sport’s rapid growth and agreed to bring a staff report back for further consideration.

Peter Sibbald, speaking on behalf of local pickleball players, appeared before the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands council Tuesday to request that four pickleball courts be painted on the community’s existing tennis court, which he described as being lightly used. The proposal aims to reduce wait times and better accommodate rising participation levels.

“In the last five years, we’ve had four times as many players,” Sibbald told council. “This is a participatory sport. We’re not talking about watching it, we’re talking about people doing it.”

Sibbald pointed to the sport’s growing regional footprint, noting facilities in Kingston, Gananoque, Mallorytown and Brockville, and said Lansdowne is already drawing players who also support local businesses.

“It’s one of these ‘if they build it, they will come’ situations,” he said. “In this case, they came. Now we have to build it.”

Currently, Lansdowne has six dedicated pickleball courts. With games typically played in doubles, 24 players can be accommodated at one time. Sibbald said summer play regularly draws about 40 people, leading to extended wait times.

To address concerns about shared use, Sibbald emphasized that tennis would continue to have priority on the court and that pickleball players are willing to install signs, at their own expense, reinforcing that priority. The group also offered to cover the cost of paint and complete the line work itself, ensuring no cost to taxpayers.

During council’s discussion, Coun. Brian Mabee asked whether the proposal aligned with the township’s recreation working group plan. Staff responded that pickleball is not currently included, though Coun. Angela Kelman said the issue would be added to the working group’s future discussions.

Council was told a report examining the delegation’s request and potential next steps will be brought back at a later meeting.

Sibbald described the proposal as a low-cost way to enhance an already popular facility while supporting a sport that continues to grow in popularity across the region. The group hopes the additional lines could be completed by spring 2026, pending council direction.

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.