Vandals Damage New South Surrey Pickleball Courts

As reported by Global News, Pickleball players in South Surrey, B.C. are crying foul after vandals damaged a new court facility just days after it opened. The city officially opened the new recreational space in Crescent Park on Sept. 15, and Surrey RCMP said less than three days later — on the night of Sept. 17 — vandals broke in.

The damage includes a hole cut in the fence, damaged asphalt and nets and a burned shade tarp. “It’s definitely intentional what has happened with this vandalism, it’s not a random person who came in and decided to do it,” Surrey RCMP Const. Sarbjit Sangha said. But why would someone intentionally damage a brand new civic facility? The park’s pickleball players have their own theories...Until it opened, pickleball players were using tennis courts located much closer to homes, where players acknowledge the loud whacking sounds the balls make could be annoying to some residents. Sangha confirmed the RCMP had received complaints about players at those courts — but said there had not been any complaints about the new ones, which were intentionally built in a more isolated area.

“Now the court has actually moved away from the residential area, and this new court has just opened last week. So right now, regarding the motive, we don’t know,” she said. Player Gus Romanelli said the scores of players that flock to the new courts believe the vandal or vandals were people who felt the new courts intrude on a more nature-focused part of the park.

​Read the full Global News story here...

Earlier CTV News Vancouver coverage on YouTube