In the summer of 2014, a small group who had learned the sport of pickleball during the winter months in the US approached the City of St. Albert asking about plans for growing pickleball in the city. On advice from the city, the group formed a non-profit society, with Bill McDonald having the honour of filing the application to register the group as the St. Albert Pickleball Club.
Twenty-six pickleballers held the first club meeting on October 7, 2014 at the Larose Courts rink shack. Bill McDonald, Wayne Richardson, Ron Korotash, Miki Melnyk and Stella Rafuse were selected as interim directors.
Needing indoor venues for the winter months, the club found gym space for indoor play at Red Willow Community Church and then found more indoor space at local schools for evening play. The outdoor Larose Courts were refurbished in 2016 and additional courts were added.
With the unprecedented growth, it wasn’t long before the club was petitioning the city for more outdoor courts. Meetings with Recreation and Parks resulted in a proposal to refurbish the tennis courts in the Alpine neighbourhood into twelve tournament-quality pickleball courts and make it the permanent home of the St Albert Pickleball Club. City council approved the proposal and budgeted $276,900 to refurbish the courts with completion in August 2018.
Whether you are young or old, we invite you to come join us and play pickleball -- North America’s fastest-growing sport!
