Williams Lake pickleball players were out in force, showing their support for a request at a Williams Lake committee of the whole meeting for a location to develop a pickleball facility.
After a detailed presentation to council at city hall during a committee of the whole meeting on July 8, Julie Bowser, vice president of the Williams Lake Pickleball Club put forward the club's request for some city land for a pickleball facility.
The pickleball club requested the city allow Comer Park, the ball park and wooded area with pathways located across from Thompson Rivers University on Western Avenue, be developed for the purposes of pickleball courts.
They suggested the park was not being used except by dog walkers, but city staff expressed concern for the need to possibly preserve the ball diamond.
"There's a lot of land up there without taking out the ball field," said Gary Muraca, chief administrative officer for the city of Williams Lake.
The Kinsmen Park ball diamond is likely not going to be usable in coming years once the adjacent property is developed by Williams Lake First Nation, after the property was rezoned to enable this earlier the same day in a separate meeting.
This would make the one at Comer Park the sole in town ball diamond. There are also trails within the treed area and proposed trail improvements in the park as part of the city's new Active Transportation Network Plan.
The club suggested the location at Comer Park on Western Avenue could be used by people from the Seniors Village and nearby schools, though there was no confirmation of a desire for supplemental recreational space from the school district.
The club was promising to take on the bulk of the work, asking the city's guidance in the development process, tax-free affordable land or lease agreement, and promotion of the club in the city of Williams Lake's advertising.
In her presentation, Bowser said the club, with 129 members and expecting to grow, can provide all manner of expertise to help make their vision happen.
"We have administrators, bookkeepers, business owners, doctors, lawyers, nurses, project managers, trade workers," she said.
To pay for the facility, the club suggested they could help lead fundraising, partner with industry, find private benefactors and host fundraising events.
"As a club we're very excited at the potential opportunity of growing the sport in Williams Lake," Bowser told council.
While city council expressed the need to consult with other community groups and have staff look at possible location options, city council voted unanimously to support a recommendation put forward by Coun. Scott Nelson to provide the club a 25-year $1 per year lease and have staff work with the club to find an appropriate location and apply for grants in support of the project.
