Council batting back and forth on pickleball court and partnerships

Williams Lake City Council once again batted back and forth on the idea of a future pickleball court.

At Tuesday, March 24’s meeting, the council rallied around a few options that could move a pickleball infrastructure development forward.

The options were:

• Option 1: Select and formalize the Stampede Grounds (old men’s fastball lease site) for future pickleball infrastructure. This would include community engagement and reviewing the project with the Central Cariboo Joint Committee. This option could include a 2026 capital project to obtain a design and cost estimates for fundraising and grant opportunities. With a note that the current Stampede Park Lease agreements are coming up for renewal prior to the end of 2026, and council already has an agreement with the Williams Lake Stampede Association to look into developing the baseball diamond to expand the Stampede Grounds’ campsite. Going with this option would break that agreement.
• Option 2: Delay the project until a Parks and Trails Master Plan is developed for parks and recreation infrastructure to ensure this facility aligns with the next decade’s plans. This would still require a review with the Central Cariboo Joint Committee and could delay the project up to two years. However, this option could best situate pickleball within broader recreation planning by the City.
• Or finally, Option 3: proceed with the project and consider the 2026 capital request for the completion of the design and cost estimates. This would not likely involve any construction of a facility in 2026; however, it could be possible in 2027, pending funding. This option requires an extensive public consultation and information-sharing process to ensure success.

Council approved going with Optin 2, delaying the project with a four-to-two vote. Councillors Scott Nelson and Michael Moses were the two dissenting voices.

Councillor Joan Flaspohler said her decision was based on the need for a Plan so community organizations and the city are working together to better develop projects.

“We have limited spaces, and if we’re constantly making decisions on one entity without following a plan, we’re at a loss,” Flaspohler said. “We’ve seen this happen multiple times this year.”

Councillor Angie Delainey agreed with Flaspohler that a plan is needed.

“There has been competing interest for the small availability of land that we have,” Delainey said. “If we continue to operate based on people’s immediate desires and when you show up in mass, that’s not very good decision making.”

Councillor Sheila Boehm also agreed to delay the pickleball project. However, she also suggested that the pickleball association, Williams Lake Stampede Association and other community non-profit organizations look into fundraising themselves, which could increase their own eligibility to get funding grants to move projects along faster.

“You have more eligibility for funding through NDIT [Northern Development Initiative Trust], and through other sources than strictly relying on the City or the Cariboo Regional District,” said Boehm. “If we can have that kind of commitment from all groups, we will have a much better case for asking for support financially.”

Councillor Scott Neslon dissented to the idea of delaying, saying he was disappointed in “this city council” once again “flip-flopping” on a decision it allegedly previously made.

“Well, this is kind of like public safety. It’s been dropped to the bottom line by this council,” Nelson said. “This council, less than six months ago, came out and said, ‘Let’s get her going.’ Today, what’s in front of us is, well, ‘let’s shove it aside…’ It’s[Pickleball] a sport that is growing. It’s a sport, the community groups came out and said we need to enlarge this… I don’t think you’re listening to the community, and I’m very disappointed in this council again.”

Councillor Jazmyn Lyons said delaying the pickleball project would mean working more closely with groups. She also said having a plan in place would mean that the council is not flip-flopping on their promises and agreements with other organizations.

“We are supporting the pickleball community, as well as sticking to our two-year plan, especially because they are asking for a piece of land that’s already been agreed and used by another group,” said Lyons. “We have a two-year plan. I would rather do that and have a better chance of keeping everybody equal and trying to work with everyone. Instead of saying, ‘we’re going to give this to you, and we’re taking away from you,’ and now somebody is going to be mad.”

Finally, Councillor Michael Moses agreed with Nelson, saying he now sees why a pickleball court is needed, with the number of community members who go out and enjoy the sport.

“I would like to see that we actually support what we said we would on this,” Moses said. “We have the funds sitting there. I think we could do this. When they opened the courts, I saw immediately they were full that morning and full the rest of the day.”