Tennis returns to Vancouver this weekend

May 8 2020 –

The Vancouver Park Board is reopening tennis and pickleball courts in neighbourhoods across Vancouver this weekend, with a phased approach that will see 53 courts in action across seven locations beginning Saturday, May 9. 

Tennis courts at Kitsilano Beach and in Stanley, Queen Elizabeth, Strathcona, Trout Lake, Memorial South, and Champlain parks will be ready for play on Saturday morning. The remaining 135 city courts will reopen throughout the week with all courts open for play by Friday, May 15. 

Tennis courts were closed mid-March along with many other Park Board facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a thorough review of operations, and in consultation with Tennis BC and the Vancouver Pickleball Association, safe tennis and pickleball play will resume with a new set of protocols and guidelines. 

New tennis and pickleball guidelines

  • Keep 2 metres apart at all times
  • Limit play to singles, or doubles play with partners from the same household 
  • Queue outside the courts and maintain 2 metres distance when courts are in use
  • Do not share racquets or other equipment (for pickleball, bring your own net)
  • Clearly mark your ball and refrain from picking up others’ tennis or pickleballs
  • Casual game play only: no lessons or league play allowed
  • Remain courteous and limit play time to 30 mins when others are waiting
  • Leave the court when you are done

Players are encouraged to wash their hands and equipment often, and to stay home if they are unwell (particularly if they are exhibiting cold and flu-like symptoms). 

More open facilities and services

The Park Board reopened VanDusen Botanical Garden, McCleery Golf Course, and Fraserview Golf Course on May 1.

Langara Golf Course will reopen May 15. 

Find more information about the status of services and facilities impacted by COVID-19

Quotes

Camil Dumont, Chair of the Vancouver Park Board

“We know many Vancouverites have been anxiously awaiting the time when they can return to our courts and we are extremely pleased to be able to safely reopen at our sites,” said Camil Dumont, Chair of the Vancouver Park Board. 

“Our staff have been undertaking a thorough review of all facilities, services, and public spaces that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of safely reopening. In some cases we will need to modify facilities and alter user behaviours, while other operations may be able to resume with limited changes. We continue to seek advice from Vancouver Coastal Health, as well as provincial and federal governing bodies for information on revised best practices, with public safety as our top priority.”