Byron Bay Pickleball Club has outgrown its digs at the Cavanbah Centre and is looking for a larger, permanent venue to call home.
Local participation in pickleball has exploded over the past two years, following a broader trend which has seen it become the fastest growing sport on the planet.
But with 600 regulars now playing locally, the courts at The Cav are no longer fit for purpose.
The club has made an application to Byron Shire Council (BSC) seeking an upgrade of the existing courts, and also support in finding a new home.
A massive pickleball community
‘In just over 14 months our club has grown from a handful of locals to a massive, large community,’ club president Lee Ungaro told last month’s BSC meeting.
‘We’ve got 160 local members, we’ve got 600 regular players that come down to play with us and we’ve got people ranging from teenagers right up to 70 and 80-years-olds.
‘The reason is that it’s easy, it’s low impact, it’s affordable, accessible and it’s accessible for people of all abilities. You’re all on their playing together.’
Community connection
Ms Ungaro said that the benefits that flowed for local participants were profound.
‘For many of our members it’s become a vital pathway for fitness – a vital pathway to recovery from long-term injuries.
‘But the biggest one that we keep hearing about is the connection to others in the community and the improved mental wellbeing.’
But Ms Ungaro said the club’s current courts were no longer fit for purpose and were impeding the club’s growth.
‘We’ve got limited access to the inside courts, and outside ones we play on are cracked, they’re unfenced, we’re exposed to high winds in that area, we’ve got poor lighting, we’ve got no shade when it does get warm… [and] there’s no storage or seating for our older members.
‘These conditions really restrict our participation, and compromise the safety for some of our members.’
Exploring options
The club has already begun exploring options for new digs, with Red Devils Park and the courts at the Byron Recreation Grounds both being earmarked as possible locations.
‘We’re not expecting Council to go it alone on this, we’re prepared to financially contribute to the design and get involved if we can secure some long-term lease,’ Ms Ungaro said.
‘Please, if you can help support us in principle… help us to investigate the feasibility of those sites that I mentioned before, and maybe work with us to create a stage for a dedicated facility that we can proudly call home, we would be extremely grateful.
‘Please help us bring this plan to fruition.’
The club has social games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Graded sessions are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
The club also offers coaching sessions with its club coach, and offers the option of being graded to qualify for graded sessions.
For more information or to get involved with the local pickleball community visit https://opensports.net/Byron-Bay-Pickleball-Club.
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