Life-changing or just a silly game? Pickleball scores in Richmond Hill

Yorkreigon.com
Feb. 27, 2023

How can a little yellow plastic ball pack such a powerful punch?

It’s a puzzle for many as the game with a silly name sweeps communities across the country -- the latest, in Richmond Hill.

The city is working on a proposal to create 16 pickleball courts with a clubhouse at the David Dunlap Observatory park, part of a $30.72-million plan that includes courts, clubhouse, parking, pedestrian bridge and trails.

For Richmond Hill resident Mike Bowcott, it can’t come soon enough.

For 10 years, Bowcott was heavily involved in the Richmond Hill Tennis Club, president for the last five.

“This game of pickleball, I thought it was something I was maybe gonna play when I was in my 70s.”

But shortly before the pandemic, at a resort playing tennis, he heard people laughing on the upper courts and decided to check it out.

A group of older players, whacking around a plastic ball, asked them to join in.

“I said to my buddy ‘we’ll just take it easy. We don’t want to crush them,’” he recalled.

“It was the most humbling experience I’ve ever had. Beaten by a 79-year-old man.”

He spent hours on the internet and days on the courts trying to learn more until he got the hang of it -- and it got its hooks in him.

Back home, Bowcott launched the Richmond Hill Pickleball Network and Facebook page.

Word spread and, after a year and half, more than 850 people registered.

“At the tennis club, when I was running it, we had 450 people -- after 60 years,” he said.

Saturday morning lessons sell out almost immediately. Jan. 30, all the spaces were gone within three minutes and even Bowcott, the convener, couldn’t get in.

The instant popularity was shocking enough, Bowcott said, but what blew his mind was the sport’s impact.

“After all those years with the tennis club … I never once had players tell me the game changed their lives. Over the past year, several told me pickleball has done this.”

Annette Hinrichs-Pymm is one.

Just before COVID-19, “unforeseen traumatic events” caused her to stop working and become full-time caregiver to her husband and, as an immune-compromised person in a pandemic, was unable to connect with people anymore.

“I had nothing to look forward to until I discovered this game.”

She and other new players formed friendships and played into the cold weather, after sunset, with gloves and tuques, returning home “energized and happy.”

“It’s every nationality, all ages playing with each other and going for coffee or drinks afterwards,” Bowcott said. “I know for certain this is the most investable business I’ve ever seen.”

Paolo Masaro, executive director of infrastructure and engineering services, said the city’s research backs that up. Across Canada, interest has grown tenfold, from 6,000 to 60,000 since 2012.

Not everyone agrees with the city’s plan to bring pickleball to David Dunlap.

“DDO is all about education and academic thinking,” said resident Marj Andre. “Pickleball is … incongruous.”

The city should consider more cerebral activities for its highly educated population, said Andre, blaming a “vocal minority” for jumping the queue.

“Arts and culture gets shortchanged … We have to balance where we’re putting limited resources, asking for something other than a silly game of pickleball.”

“It’s not jumping the queue in any way, shape or form. It’s addressing the needs of our citizens," Masaro said.

Demand for other sports facilities, like soccer, is also being investigated, he said.

As for it being incongruous, “that is a fair comment and this is why I’m interested to hear feedback from the community.”

An online survey is available until March 17, at RichmondHill.ca/RHDDOProjects and a public information centre is set for March 9.

Masaro notes a staff report determined DDO was the most appropriate location given its size and distance from residential areas.

There are other parts of the park that are “tranquil”; the panhandle offers more active pursuits, he said.

Bowcott thinks the location is ideal, bringing more traffic to the park.

“It’s probably going to be the best money the city has ever spent. DDO will become a destination … This is a game-changer.”