The District of Invermere and the Invermere Pickleball Club marked a major milestone today with a kick-off event celebrating the future Pynelogs Pickleball Courts, an eight-court facility set to open in 2027.

The event, held at the future court site, brought together club members, district staff, and Mayor and Council to celebrate several years of work finding the right home for the growing sport in Invermere.

“We’ve been working towards courts in Invermere for several years with the district, and it’s a big deal,” said Lisa McIntosh of the Invermere Pickleball Club. “We’re ready for the next stage of pickleball, and we’re going to put in eight courts. What that’s really going to allow us to do is hold tournaments.”

Mayor Al Miller thanked the club and the project team for their persistence.

“This is quite the day, and we’ve been waiting for this for a long, long time,” said Mayor Miller. “I quite honestly think this is going to be a great spot. On behalf of the district, all our management, our entire team, Mayor and council, we want to thank you for your participation and your work in helping get this to this place.”

The new facility will include eight courts, two of which will be wheelchair accessible, along with fencing and soundproofing.

The Invermere Pickleball Club currently plays at the Mount Nelson courts and rents indoor space at the curling rink over the winter months, but rising demand for the sport has outgrown that shared, multi-use space. Club activities alone accounted for roughly 5,000 court visits last year, with recreational play by non-members estimated to roughly double that number.

The club’s annual tournament, currently held indoors on four courts, drew about 200 participants this year. The new eight-court facility will allow the club to host larger tournaments, coaching sessions, and camps, bringing more visitors into the Columbia Valley.

The district and the Invermere Pickleball Club will also be installing acoustic fencing around the courts to reduce noise for nearby residents. The fencing will bring the added benefit of improved safety for players, given the courts’ location next to the Rotary Ball Diamond, where baseball games are also played.

The project is estimated at approximately $6.16 million for all eight courts and is currently about 30% funded. Early funding has come from the District of Invermere through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) monies, along with community fundraising and initial grants.

“Very little has been required from Invermere taxpayers to make this happen, and that’s another positive,” said Mayor Miller.

The Invermere Pickleball Club will now turn its attention to fundraising, sponsorships, and grant applications to close the remaining funding gap. Community members interested in donating or sponsoring the project can visit www.ipbclub.ca.

Organizers thanked Councillors Grant Kelly and Teresa Wood for their work helping identify the court location, along with District of Invermere Chief Administrative Officer Dean McKinley and Nic Paccagnan, who is entering his final year of a planning degree at the University of Calgary and has supported the project this summer.

Thanks were also extended to Invermere Pickleball Club board members Angie Duong (grants), Mike Bader (construction coordination), Jenna, and Roger, as well as founding club members John Hague, Jack, and Carol, whose early efforts brought pickleball lines to the Mount Nelson courts. The club also recognized Jay of Valhalla Sport for expanding local access to pickleball equipment.

Construction is targeted to begin in the coming months, with the club aiming for play on the new courts as early as next fall, and a 2027 completion targeted for the full facility.

Lead image: Club members, District staff, and Mayor and Council gather at the future court site to mark the milestone. Left to right: Mike Bader, Angie Duong, Councillor Teresa Wood, Councillor Grant Kelly, John Hague, Mayor Al Miller, Lisa McIntosh, and Jennette St. Jean. District of Invermere photos

District of Invermere

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