Pickleball pilot project prompted by huge demand for sport in Mississauga

The people of Mississauga want more pickleball — and city officials are giving it to them.

The City of Mississauga launched a pilot program this week in response to a growing demand from residents for more pickleball access — both indoor and outdoor — in Canada’s seventh-largest city.

Through the pilot, those who want to play the fast-growing sport in the city can now register in advance for a drop-in game or several. City officials say the new program will help manage the high demand for pickleball in Mississauga.

“Pickleball continues to be a very popular sport in Mississauga,” the city said in a news release on Monday, adding the pilot program “aims to add certainty for participants while also minimizing lineups at community centres.”

The drop-in pickleball program starts on Tuesday and each day city residents can register to play starting at 7 a.m. Non-residents can sign up after 12 noon daily.

Pickleball is played on a badminton-size court using a paddle and wiffle ball and combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis.

“It is easy to learn and can be played with two or four players (usually four),” city officials say. “Pickleball is played on a court with similar dimensions as a doubles badminton court. The net is like a tennis net, but is mounted two inches lower.”

Mississauga officials say people of all ages are showing an interest in pickleball. (Photo: City of Mississauga)

City officials added the game can be played both indoors and outdoors, “making it the perfect activity for all seasons.”

Mississauga currently has 84 outdoor pickleball courts at parks across the city — 58 are at public courts shared with tennis, 18 are located at club courts and eight are dedicated pickleball courts — and drop-in games are free.

As for indoor pickleball, the game is offered at 10 community centres in Mississauga. In addition to drop-in participation, the city also offers a variety of registered indoor pickleball programs.

Indoor drop-in programs are pay-as-you-go unless you’re an “all in” member.

Beyond the pilot project, city officials say they’re also looking to grow the number of pickleball courts across Mississauga in the next several years.

Plans are in the works to add as many as nine shared pickleball courts and 11 new dedicated courts at parks across Mississauga, in addition to a site for tournament play currently being reviewed, the city said.

Exciting projects are underway, city says 

“There are a lot of exciting projects underway to help expand the (number of) available courts,” city officials added.

“The city is committed to supporting the growing popularity of pickleball and recognizes its potential to bring people together, promote physical activity and enhance the quality of life for residents.”

Despite a sometimes not-very-good-natured rivalry between new pickleball players and those in the city who’ve been playing tennis for many years, the shared-facility concept, city officials have said, seems to be working.

Pickleball, invented in the U.S. Pacific Northwest in 1965, has taken Mississauga — and North America — by storm since the COVID-19 pandemic neared its end.

In response, the city has in the past several years hopped on board the craze and attempted to make the sport more widely available to the growing number of players in Mississauga.

Pickleball, among the fastest-growing sports and activities in both Canada and the U.S., is also gaining popularity on the international scene.

It’s often played at a dynamic pace and people of all ages have been flocking to it.

“The sport has captured the hearts of our community and, as a city, we’re committed to supporting the growth of the sport,” Kristina Zietsma, Mississauga’s director of recreation and culture, told INsauga.com in an interview in 2024. “We recognize that pickleball has the potential to bring people together, promote physical activity and enhance the quality of life for Mississauga residents.”

(Cover photo: City of Mississauga)