The South Cariboo Pickleball Association's plans to build outdoor pickleball courts in the 108 Mile Ranch got a major boost last month.
Larry Davis, the association's chairperson, said they have secured a $125,000 grant from the South Cariboo Joint Committee, made up of representatives from the Cariboo Regional District and the District of 100 Mile House, in late October. This money, combined with funds raised by the association from various community events, has given them roughly half of what they need to make their vision a reality.
"We think we have enough, if we get some grants, to move forward hopefully within the next year to get pickleball courts at the 108," Davis remarked. "We probably need about $260,000, $270,000 but with our fundraising efforts and this money from the CRD the other funding agencies, they will fund up to half. We're at the halfway mark now and if anything comes through I could see us starting to build next summer."
Davis said the pickleball association plans to apply to the Northern Development Initiative Trust to secure some of the remaining funds. He noted they are also still getting bids from local contractors to determine their project's final cost.
This news comes after the pickle ballers were able to sign an agreement with the 108 Ranch Community Association to build the courts beside the 108 Mile Community Hall. Davis said they plan to build a seven-court pickleball venue that will be available to use through the spring, summer and fall, weather permitting.
This is not the first time the pickleball association has tried to get outdoor pickleball courts built in the South Cariboo. In the summer of 2023, the District of 100 Mile House planned to convert the old tennis court in Centennial Park into pickleball courts with the association's support.
However, the project ran into opposition from local community members who worried the noise made by the game would be too disruptive. Council ultimately chose to turn the courts into half a tennis court and half a basketball court instead.
Keeping this in mind, Davis said the association is taking proactive steps to mitigate noise concerns this time around. When they construct the courts Davis said they will use the soil they dig up to create berms around the court to soak up the noise. There is also new silent pickleballs and paddles being released which Davis said they will encourage association members to use.
"We have been doing this since 2020, trying to find a venue," Davis remarked. "I'm happy to say we had a community meeting with the 108 Mile community and there was really no opposition to the project. I think the 108 will be able to have a set of pickleball courts everyone can be happy with, especially the pickleball community."
Davis said that the association will know if they'll be able to get the courts built in 2025 by the spring once NDIT and other organizations announce the recipients of their grants. In the meantime, anyone looking to sponsor or donate to the club can contact Davis at rldavis@shaw.ca.
"When folks see us selling our duck tickets this spring, they'll know it's going toward building something in the 108 community that everyone in the South Cariboo can use and enjoy."
