Phase one of multicourt project to ramp up in 2024

December 9, 2023

Pickleball enthusiasts in Inverness County could have three new courts on which to enjoy their sport as early as 2024.

The courts are part of phase one of a multicourt project being undertaken by the Municipality of Inverness County. This first phase will also include a basketball court, a games area, parking, and accessible pathways.

Funding for the project was made available last spring by the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, and a procurement process has been launched to hire contractors to complete the work. The new recreation facility is being designed to serve all Inverness County residents. It’ll be located on land owned by the municipality, adjacent to the Inverness Education Centre/Academy and the Ned MacDonald Memorial Ball Field, with public access off MacLean Street.

Melanie Meagher-Beaton, Deputy CAO with the municipality, says the construction contracts could be awarded early enough to allow for the start of construction in December. She notes a December start would be totally dependent on weather, and that it’s possible work won’t begin until the spring of 2024.

“We are still striving to deliver what was promised in phase one (during the 2024 construction season),” Meagher-Beaton says.

Phase two of the development will include a second basketball court, two tennis courts, a covered seating area and amenities building.

“Work is underway to see how the second phase will roll out,” Meagher-Beaton says. “We’re currently working with David Greenwell of M3D Design to design the amenities building. It’s hoped the amenities building will house a kiosk and have space for a canteen, equipment storage, washrooms, and locker facilities.”

“So that building is currently in design, and we’re hoping to have it at a level of readiness to apply for the next round of funding,” she explains. “But phase two is highly dependent upon funding availability.”

“We’ve always known it would be a multi-year commitment to get it all finished,” Meagher-Beaton says. “I would say the focus for phase two would be from 2025 to 2026. But of course that depends upon timing for completion of phase one, and on securing grant funding to offset the capital cost. There are a lot of moving parts, but we’re determined to get to the finish line.”

The multicourt project is being built in response to the need for access to non-structured physical activity, which Inverness County residents communicated to the municipality through a recent recreation and wellness survey. It was conceived to serve all Inverness County residents, visiting sports teams, as well as seasonal visitors to the county.