Local man Chris Morren is so against pickleball that he will buy you a coffee for voting against the sport in local tennis courts in a City survey.
A South Etobicoke man is taking on the City in a bid to halt the expansion of the sport of pickleball in some neighbourhood parks.
The City of Toronto is conducting a survey until March 3 on the best use and popularity of pickleball, which they plan to install to about 20 Toronto tennis courts across the city.
Chris Morren says he will purchase residents a Tim Horton’s coffee if they vote no to the expansion of pickleball on the survey.
Chris Morren and his son taking part in their favourite sport.
City staff is conducting community engagement to review the sport before construction of pickleball courts begin in the Spring. Construction is expected to be complete by December.
Morren in his invitation on social media said he will purchase a large coffee, with proof, to the first 500 people who vote against pickleball being installed in Laburnham Park, at 23 Evergreen Avenue, in Long Branch.
“ I am willing to engage with an independent auditor to verify this is all on the up and up,” Morren wrote. “Pickleball is a fad and requires less exercise.”
Pickleball players having fun and getting exercise playing their sport.
He is willing to go to court to stop the pickleball expansion to local parks. “I’ll go to court if have to.”
Morren said he will ‘take the Bloor Street W. bike lanes over pickleball in tennis courts.’
He claims to be with a group called Torontonians Against Pickleball (TAP).
City staff is working with communities to collect feedback about upgrades to tennis courts across the city, including improvements to lighting, fencing and court surfaces.
A pickleball player concentrating on her shot in a heated game.
“The community engagement process will also explore opportunities to introduce new facilities to support the growing sport of pickleball,” Staff said.
They are seeking feedback on amenities needed to support successful improvements at each park, the preferred improvements and options for adding pickleball at each park.
Some of the parks included for pickleball are: Baycrest Park, Graydon Hall Park, Hendon Park, High Park, Howard Talbot Park, Kingsview Park, L’Amereaux Sports Complex, Laburnham Park, Lanyard Park, Malvern Park, Maple Leaf Park, Martingrove Gardens Park and McDairmid Woods Park among others.
You can respond to the survey by calling Rosemary McManus, City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, at 416-396-7826. You can also visit www.toronto.ca/CourtImprovements.