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Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes September 13, 2021 Page 4 1 becoming a hotbed for pickleball. Mpls. Cider Company in NE just expanded and they 2 celebrated opening two indoor pickleball courts. Another indoor pickleball club is opening in 3 NE Minneapolis called Lucky Shots Pickleball Club. They will be opening of 12-15 indoor 4 courts. 5 6 There was a Star Tribune article that addressed the investment that local cities are making in 7 pickleball. Large investments have been made by New Brighton and Shoreview. 8 9 Ms. Sue Chaplin, President of Shoreview Pickleball Club, attended via Zoom. It was 2014 10 when Shoreview committed to convert two of their four tennis courts to pickleball courts. 11 There were six dedicated pickleball courts that were up and running in 2015. In 2015 a 12 pickleball club was started in Shoreview with 30 initial members. Today, six years later, there 13 are close to 400 members. That is way too much for 6 courts. The Shoreview Community 14 Center has converted two tennis courts to pickleball with just lines. The beginner players play 15 at the Community Center and that can be as many as 40-50 per day. The intermediate- 16 advanced players play at the dedicated courts. The dedicated courts bring people into play. 17 Community Education classes are important for beginners. Of the club members at least 75% 18 are retired and many are over 80 years of age. If you build it, they will come. It is a source of 19 revenue for new nets, new balls and purchasing wind screens. 20 21 Mr. Gillard stated the City of Roseville is at a very similar point. They have a project in 22 motion to convert the Evergreen Tennis Courts to convert to 6-8 dedicated pickleball courts. 23 The Park and Recreation Director is happy to answer any questions. They welcome those 24 outside of Roseville to play along with residents. The Northeaster also had an article about the 25 growth of pickleball. 26 27 Mr. Gillard stated he would like to see a solution for Spring of 2022. It would be ideal to have 28 dedicated courts or shared courts with lights. In the long term a discussion needs to be held 29 regarding the growth of pickleball in the area. Dedicated pickleball courts with lights would 30 be the long-term solution. 31 32 Commissioner Guest asked for the average age of the St. Anthony pickleball players? Mr. 33 Gillard stated the average age nationally is 35-40 range. The average age that he originally 34 saw was retirement age, but now after COVID 35–40-year-olds are playing. The ages coming 35 in for the tournament was 40-50’s. The senior population likes to use the courts during the 36 day. The younger players are willing to spend more money and invests more in the sport and 37 attending tournaments. 38 39 Commissioner Niemi asked if scheduled times for Culver Court are on the City website. Mr. 40 Gillard stated the times are posted on the courts. Commissioner Niemi stated since indoor 41 space is a premium, is the group looking at using schools. Mr. Gillard stated they are working 42 with Community Education to see if they can obtain some indoor space. Commissioner Niemi 43 asked if club membership is required to play in Shoreview. A non-club member can play if 44 there is time available. There are dedicated slot times for members. 45