Courtice pickleball court grand re-opening Friday

Pickleball lovers in Clarington will be celebrating the grand opening of the newly renovated Stuart Park in Courtice Friday, the first outdoor municipal pickleball courts in the community.

Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster and members of Council will cut the ribbon to officially re-open the park, with local players giving a demonstration and perhaps a few pointers on the fast-growing sport.

Pickleball is played using a wiffle ball on a badminton-size court with a racket larger and more durable than a ping pong paddle and is making headway across the GTA and indeed North America, with the slower pace of the game appealing to athletes of every age and skill level.

The very best in the sport will be in Mississauga September 30 and October 1 for the Canadian National Pickleball finals, which will be held at One Health Club. Thirty-two of Canada’s top players will battle it out for the national title.

Friday’s Stuart Park grand re-opening will be slightly less competitive, with the event getting underway at 4 p.m., with visitors encouraged to park at nearby Dr. Emily Stowe Public School on Sandringham Drive.