London Churches Embrace Pickleball to Build Community and Generate Revenue
Pickleball Players Serve Up Community Engagement at London Churches
In the otherwise quiet halls of Oakridge Presbyterian Church in west London, Ont., on a weekday afternoon, a rhythmic thud echoes through the building. The church is one of several in the city that offers up space not used for worship or youth groups to pickleball players in the community.
“It’s filling a need in the neighbourhood for recreational activities and retired people can come during the day to play,” said Nancy Martin, a volunteer at the Oakridge Presbyterian Church who runs the pickleball court. “It’s social, physical and fun.”
Martin, a player herself, had the idea to open the courts at her church in 2020 after playing pickleball with her friends in the gym of St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica. Oakridge Presbyterian Church is one of several London churches with pickleball courts, offering six 90-minute time slots a day that groups can book for $35.
“The pandemic kind of hit the churches square in the nose, and the enrolments have dropped off,” said Laverne Kirkness, who co-ordinates the pickleball program at Colborne Street United Church. He started offering $5 pickleball court rentals and clinics five months ago as a new way to help keep the church’s doors open.
Renting out facilities for school programs or concerts is the main way churches like Colborne Street United Church generate revenue, according to Kirkness. Offering activities such as pickleball is also a good way to get the church’s name out to the public and potentially attract new members in the future.
Both Martin and Kirkness emphasized the importance of churches becoming more involved in the community outside of religious services to stay afloat. With pickleball players regularly booking courts and enjoying the community-focused atmosphere, these churches are finding success in engaging with their neighborhoods in new and exciting ways.
