The hunt is on to find qualified builders to construct a new $4-million Chilliwack pickleball facility.
City of Chilliwack launched a ‘request for qualifications’ process on March 24 to create a shortlist of three respondents qualified to build a 28,000 square-foot facility.
The new facility will house 10 pickleball courts, according to the rendering in city documents.
Local fans of the sport like to refer to pickleball as one of the “fastest growing sports in North America,” and by 2019 the local club had more than 220 members.
When pickleball club spokesman Mark Hutchinson came to city hall to request that council consider building a dedicated facility for pickleballers in 2019, he said improving facilities would help make Chilliwack a provincial “hotspot” for the sport that was growing in popularity.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, it can be played indoors or outdoors, but in rainy B.C. the indoor courts are important, he said, adding the club was keen to work with city officials. In 2017 the players moved from Evergreen Hall to the Landing, but Saturday proved to be tough for scheduling.
City officials have retained MQN Architects to design the new pickleball facility.
The request for qualifications for the facility closes on April 24, with shortlist by April 30. The request for proposals closes on May 22.
READ MORE: ‘No reason why Chilliwack can’t be the centre for pickleball in B.C.’