Latest twist in pickleball controversy leaves P.E.I. town without new courts — and mayor

Kensington's town council has reversed its plans to help fund a set of pickleball courts, a week after its mayor resigned over the issue, saying the small P.E.I. town couldn't afford them.

On Nov. 25, council voted 3-2 to spend about $289,000 on a six-court pickleball facility, or possibly less if fundraising efforts came up with some cash. The Canada Games Legacy Fund would provide another $270,000.

Rowan Caseley, who was in his 10th year as mayor, had been vocal in insisting the money could be better spent elsewhere, given the town already had four places for people to play pickleball. He saw his fellow councillors' action as a "vote of non-confidence" in his leadership and resigned that same night.

Now, after a closed-door meeting Tuesday night, councillors have voted to reverse the original decision to fund the facility.

In a news release Wednesday, the town said that after the original vote, members of the local pickleball club said they would not be able to raise funds for, manage or maintain the facility.

How a pitch for new pickleball courts led a longtime P.E.I. mayor to resign

25 days ago

Duration 2:32

After many years in the Kensington mayor's chair, Rowan Caseley has quit. His sudden decision followed a lengthy and emotional debate around whether the town could afford a complex of new pickleball courts, in an era when requests for things Caseley calls "needs" have been rejected because the money just wasn't there. "This pickleball court is something that is a want," he said.

"While they were excited at the prospect of a new pickleball facility in the community, the development of pickleball courts does not align with the current priorities of the local pickleball club," the release said.

"It was the town's original understanding that the pickleball club was committed to fundraising towards the capital cost and the operations and maintenance of the facility, which formed an integral part of why the original direction to staff to proceed with the project was given."

Given that Kensington has several other projects in the planning stages, the news release also said, the town did not have the staffing resources to take on another one. Those include "playground improvements, sidewalk replacements, expansions to the town's wastewater treatment and collection systems, and projects that improve operational efficiency."

This issue has been divisive within our community. My hope is that we can now put this behind us and continue working together to build and strengthen our great community.— Acting Mayor Jeff Spencer

Acting mayor Jeff Spencer was quoted in the news release as saying councillors would continue to seek other ways to enhance the town's recreational offerings.

"This issue has been divisive within our community," he noted. "My hope is that we can now put this behind us and continue working together to build and strengthen our great community."

Spencer also said: "We appreciate the input from the local pickleball club and their honesty about their current priorities and capabilities."

Pickleball explained

11 years ago

Duration 2:03

Pickleball aficianado Garth Matthews demonstrates the finer points of a racquet sport becoming popular in eastern P.E.I.

Reached on Wednesday, Caseley said he was not pleased he had to take such a "drastic step," but has no regrets about his decision to resign.

"I've got to look at there being some success, because that was the big problem that I had, was with the project moving forward and not having the resources to be able to do it," he said. "So if that cancelled the project, then I guess that's worth me resigning over."

The town has until May 25 to hold a byelection for a new mayor.