West Vancouver council will decide on January 12 whether to proceed with the construction of three pickleball courts and a street-style skateboarding area at Gleneagles Adventure Park after plans to use nearby BC Hydro land proved unfeasible.
The district plans to issue a design-build tender for the project, budgeted at $523,600. The work would also include repainting the existing skate bowl at the park.
According to a report to the council, staff abandoned the BC Hydro site after the utility company identified underground infrastructure requiring a 10-metre setback from the transformer substation fence. That constraint would push the pickleball courts into an adjacent bedrock wall, substantially increasing costs and requiring additional geotechnical studies.
The BC Hydro property also has statutory rights-of-way for both BC Hydro and FortisBC that would need further investigation and approvals.
Revised plan targets the underused park area
The new design calls for three regulation-size pickleball courts matching those at Ambleside Park, measuring 34 feet by 64 feet. Two courts would face north-south, with one oriented east-west.
The project would replace the current bike terrain park with approximately 5,880 square feet of street-style skateboarding space. According to the staff report, professional skateboarders recommended repainting the existing skate bowl with specialty paint to improve performance and safety.
Staff say the street-style skateboarding area would complement the existing bowl and attract a broader range of users. The design includes informal gathering spaces for social interaction and observation. The existing skate bowl would be repainted at the end of construction to protect it from damage during the work.
Pump track still under consideration
While the BC Hydro land won’t work for pickleball courts, staff believe it could accommodate a paved pump track weaving through existing trees. That facility would replace the bike terrain park being removed for pickleball courts.
A paved track would require less maintenance than dirt alternatives and support year-round use by people on rollerblades, bikes, skateboards and scooters, according to the report.
Staff need to resolve several issues before proceeding, including safe pedestrian access across Marine Drive, potential servicing and septic connections for BC Hydro, geotechnical conditions, and formal agreements with BC Hydro and potentially FortisBC.
The district will report back to council on pump track feasibility at a future date.
Project responds to demand for more courts
The proposal follows months of debate over recreation facilities in the western community. In March 2025, staff initially proposed four pickleball courts and a pump track at the site. Council directed staff to consult with the community and stakeholders.
After engagement between March 24 and April 11, staff returned in June with a revised plan featuring two pickleball courts, a refined skate bowl, street-style skateboarding amenity and pump track. Members of the pickleball community told council two courts wouldn’t meet current or future demand.
Council rejected that proposal and instead asked staff to explore using BC Hydro land across from Gleneagles Community Centre. Staff have been negotiating with the utility and impacted departments since June.
If construction bids exceed the allocated $523,600, staff will return to council requesting additional funding from the Community Amenity Contribution reserve.
The design-build process will include a review with pickleball and skateboarding stakeholders to gather input on elements like benches and gathering areas.
