On December 4, 2024, the Outdoor Racquet Sports Strategy (ORSS) was approved by City Council to guide the future planning, capital forecasting, and development of outdoor tennis and pickleball facilities within Barrie.
The ORSS will guide the sustainable delivery of outdoor tennis and pickleball courts in the Barrie to 2036, in response to the continued demand for these amenities. The intent of the Strategy is to provide the City of Barrie with:
- Guidance on design standards for outdoor tennis and pickleball courts;
- Recommended levels of service based on best practices, community interests and needs;
- An implementation strategy with solutions to achieve the recommended levels of service.
The City of Barrie is committed to continuous improvement and works towards providing the public with inclusive, diverse, and safe opportunities for outdoor recreation, including racquet sports such as outdoor tennis and pickleball.
In 2019, the City prepared an Outdoor Recreation Facility Study and at the time pickleball was in its infancy in Barrie and limited data was available regarding generally accepted provision targets for outdoor pickleball facilities in Ontario municipalities. In response to the rapidly growing interest in tennis, and particularly pickleball, in Barrie the ORSS provides a detailed review of the interests and needs for outdoor tennis and pickleball facilities.
The findings and recommendations of the ORSS will be used to guide decisions and inform both a future Comprehensive Parks Plan and Recreation Master Plan.