Pickleball has been called the fastest growing sport in North America and a growing club in Riverview now has about 470 members who seek a dedicated place to play.

The Riverview Pickleball Club made a presentation to Riverview Town Council this week of its proposal to convert an old lawn bowling green on Biggs Drive into eight pickleball courts.

President Bob Betts said upgrading the site would be a multi-year project estimated to cost about $200,000.

Betts outlined to council about how popular the sport had become.

“Indoor courts have been built and are being built all over New Brunswick – in Fredericton, Saint John, Bathurst, Dieppe, Shediac, St. Isidore and Edmundston. And I just heard St. George is going to build some outdoor courts as well,” noted Betts.

He said the Biggs Drive location (across from Dobson Arena) would be ideal and the lawn bowling green hasn’t been used in recent years.

“(In terms of noise), it’s as far away from residences as possible. It’s very close to the tennis club. It’s already fenced in. It already has lighting. It even has mood lighting for social barbecues,” added Betts.

He said the club would fundraise along with seeking grants and other sources of funding from higher levels of government.

Most town councillors were enthusiastic about pickleball and growing the sport in the town.

The presentation was for public information only and town council was not asked for funding at this time.

Town staff did say the matter is something council could consider at budget time.