The growing sport of pickleball is now being played at a Tecumseh landmark.
The Town of Tecumseh formally dedicated the Zekelman Pickleball Complex Thursday at Lacasse Park, complete with a ten-court layout dedicated to the game. Members of the Town Council, plus Windsor-Tecumseh MPP-elect Andrew Dowie, were on hand to open the facility.
"These new courts are the result of many years of hard work by the community, as well as the support of a number of sponsors, and they are a testament to the idea that when we all work together, great things can happen," said Mayor Gary McNamara. "I want to extend my congratulations to the Tecumseh Pickleball Association for the dedication that they have shown over the years, culminating in today’s grand opening and a special thank you to the Barry and Stephanie Zekelman Foundation."
Pickleball is described as a hybrid of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, and is one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. The Tecumseh association's membership more than tripled from 90 in 2019, to 280 in 2021.
"Besides having a strong team, the success of Tecumseh Pickleball lies in teaching new players, offering organized daily play, boot camps, drills and running fun tournaments," said Melinda Hebert, Tecumseh Pickleball Association. Pickleball is now attracting younger, working adults as new facilities, like the Zekelman complex, become available in the evenings and weekends. It’s getting difficult to keep up with the number of requests to learn how to play."
Players can buy a seasonal membership for $27 plus tax by going to the official Tecumseh Parks and Recreation website, or by calling the Tecumseh Community and Recreation Services Office at (519) 735-4756. Members will get a key that allows the member and a guest opponent access to the courts. Keys can be picked up during office hours.
To learn more about the Tecumseh Pickleball Association or the game itself, go to the association's official website.