Council makes pickleball call

It’s hard to play pickleball without a net, but will it be safe from thieves if it’s left up at the court?

Sundance’s pickleball club has been keeping the net locked up to protect it, said Clerk-Treasurer Theresa Curren last week, but this has caused a problem because the city has received requests from members of the public who would like to make use of it.

Until now, she said, a potential pickleballer has had to contact a member of the club to borrow the net. Curren suggested that a better option would be to have the net at City Hall to loan out upon request.

“I think it would be good for the public to be able to use the net that the city bought for it,” she said.

The council was not keen on the idea of City Hall taking responsibility for all the admin of overseeing who checks it out, who had it last, how long it’s been gone and so on.

However, members of the pickleball club present in the audience stated that the net does need to be protected as it will likely be stolen if left in place.

Public Works Director Mac Erickson felt it was worth giving it a try.

Let’s put the net down there, he said, and if someone steals it, “We’ve learned our lesson and we do something else.”

On the basis that nets cost a relatively affordable $100, Council Member Callie Hilty responded, “I’m willing to risk it”.

Erickson said he would set up the net so that it remains in place for public use throughout the summer and cautioned, “If somebody steals it, you’ve ruined it for everybody”.

Meanwhile, the pickleball club was actually in attendance to make a request for support from the city. The club has begun purchasing wind screens to place around the court to make it easier to play in windy weather and also to provide shade from the sun.

The club asked the city to divide the cost for the set, which would be a total of $260.78. The request was approved.