London Churches Embrace Pickleball to Build Community and Generate Revenue
Pickleball Players Flock to London Churches for Court Time
In a unique twist, London churches are opening their doors to pickleball players in the community, offering up their unused space for the popular sport. Oakridge Presbyterian Church in west London is just one of several churches in the city that have embraced this trend, providing a win-win situation for both players and the church.
Nancy Martin, a volunteer at Oakridge Presbyterian Church, saw the opportunity to utilize the empty gym space during the day for pickleball, a sport that has been growing in popularity. “It’s filling a need in the neighbourhood for recreational activities and retired people can come during the day to play,” Martin said. “It’s social, physical, and fun.”
The church offers six 90-minute time slots a day for groups to book at $35 each, and according to Martin, the courts are often fully booked. Angela Everest, a regular player at the church, praised the spaciousness of the gym and the community-focused atmosphere.
Laverne Kirkness, who co-ordinates the pickleball program at Colborne Street United Church, also highlighted the importance of churches finding new ways to engage with the community and generate revenue. “The pandemic kind of hit the churches square in the nose, and the enrolments have dropped off,” Kirkness said. “Churches are in many ways reinventing themselves to be more involved in the community.”
By offering activities like pickleball, churches hope to not only provide a service to the community but also to increase their visibility and potentially attract new members. As Kirkness noted, renting out facilities for various programs and events is becoming a key way for churches to stay afloat in the modern world.
Overall, the partnership between pickleball players and churches in London is a testament to the adaptability and creativity of these institutions in meeting the needs of their communities.
