Bringing Pickleball to Mill Pond: A Proposal for New Outdoor Courts

The Case for Pickleball:

• Explosive Growth: As of 2026, Richmond Hill has one of the most active pickleball communities in York Region. Local networks (such as the Richmond Hill Pickleball Club and York Region - GTA Network) boast over 6,400 registered players across the city.
• Lack of Local Access: While parks like Rouge Woods and Richmond Green have courts, the Mill Pond area lacks walkable access to facilities, forcing residents to drive across the city or to Vaughan, and contributing to the "court shortage" seen at existing locations.
• Low-Cost Implementation: We propose a "Pop-up Trial" using existing underutilized tennis courts or paved surfaces with temporary nets and lines, allowing the City to gauge usage before committing to permanent infrastructure.

Pickleball fosters community health and social connection for all ages and cultures. We request that Mill Pond be prioritized in the next phase of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan for Pickleball court development.

We urge the City to identify a suitable underutilized outdoor space for a pilot project of temporary Pickleball courts in the Mill Pond neighbourhood, to evaluate its success and impact. Possible underutilized neighbourhood space for consideration may include:

• Stavert Park, especially the adjoining abandoned parking lot
• Bradstock Park
• Upper Mill Pond Park

Your Mill Pond neighbours truly appreciate your support! (Richmond Hill, Ontario)