A new project is set to help continue the growth and popularity of Pickleball in Saskatoon. The project, which will be funded by the partnership group of Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. and Saskatoon Soccer Centre Inc., will see one of the fields at The Henk Ruys Soccer Centre be resurfaced with a new rubberized top.

There are over 900 people registered in club pickleball for Saskatoon, a number that President of Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. Theresa Kirkpatrick expects to grow. “In Canada now there’s an estimated one-million people playing the sport, and it’s one of the fastest growing sports in North America and we’re seeing that in Saskatoon.”

Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. and Saskatoon Soccer Centre Inc. have been in a partnership since 2021 and will see the benefits of both sides with the new project. For pickleball, the new surface will expand courts from eight to 16, and Kirkpatrick also expects it to be used for bigger events.

“With that many courts under one roof this will give us the ability to do things like bid for major tournaments where you will see people from not just all over the province, but all over the country.”

The project is expected to cost just over $200,000 and will be completed by late next summer and ready to use in September 2024.