How pickleball found a home in Burnaby's parks

We did not book a court or pay a fee. We found an open one, and by the end of the afternoon we had a rally going. I came back later in the week with a former officemate, and it was the same easy setup. Ernie Winch, at 7680 15th Street, has two tennis courts and two pickleball courts, with the pickleball lines painted over one of the tennis courts, and it costs nothing to play. That is the appeal of the smaller neighbourhood courts. When the big-name sites are packed, these quieter spots are where a beginner can actually learn without feeling rushed.

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the city, and it is not hard to see why. It is easy to pick up, it is social, and people of almost any age can play, so it fits families well. Burnaby now has lined courts at more than a dozen parks. Some share space with tennis, some are built just for pickleball, and there are covered sports boxes for the days when the weather turns. Edmonds Park, tucked behind the Edmonds Community Centre at 7433 Edmonds Street, has two tennis courts and four pickleball courts sharing the same lines, and it is one of the calmer places to get a game in. The full and current list of sites is on the City of Burnaby outdoor courts page. One note if you are planning around Edmonds: the pickleball lockboxes there and at Cariboo Park are unavailable while the city reviews both in 2026.

The outdoor courts are free and first-come, first-served, with nothing to book ahead. Bring your own paddles and a ball. On the shared tennis courts you can set up a portable net, and residents can register for a lockbox combination to borrow nets at select sites. When people are waiting, the courtesy is a 30-minute limit per game, and non-marking shoes are required. If your usual spot is full, Confederation Park is one of the largest, with ten pickleball courts, and it often has room when the smaller sites fill up. Courts without lights run from 7:30 am until dusk, and lit courts stay open later into the evening.

If you want coaching or a place to play through a rainy stretch, there is an indoor option too. IPOP, the Inclusive Place of Pickleball, opened in the old Safeway at Lougheed Mall with indoor courts, drop-in sessions, lessons, and leagues. You can find the details at IPOP. But for a first paddle on a warm afternoon, a quiet park court is hard to beat, and Burnaby has more of them than most people realize.