Pilot program to start this fall: Norwich to serve up some pickleball

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

Norwich Township is jumping on the pickleball bandwagon.

Staff will be implementing a trial pickleball program this fall that will see the sport offered on a drop-in basis in the community centre auditorium. Councillors approved a staff recommendation to offer the program at the Sept. 9 meeting.

“We think this is a pretty effective and pretty cheap way of giving it a try and see if the demand is what our community members feel it is likely to be. Then we may well be looking at offering more of this in the future,” said CAO Matt Smith.

Earlier this year a delegation to council requested the township look at ways to offer pickleball, which has grown drastically in popularity in recent years, especially among older adults.

The auditorium should be able to fit four courts, while the nets are expected to cost a total of $1,000.

The plan is to offer two-hour time slots in the morning, afternoon and evening so staff can gauge what time is most popular. There will likely be straight drop-in sessions along with a season session.

Once the trial wraps up in December staff will review and consider a more permanent program beginning in 2026.