Ottawa's fitness scene has a new favourite meetup, and it isn't a run club. Pickleball in the Park, a local group that started up in May, has already grown to more than 100 members, and it's mostly young Ottawa residents who are behind the surge.
CBC Ottawa's Kristen de Jager spoke with members of the group, which has become the go-to spot for Gen Zers in the city looking for a low-pressure way to get active, meet people, and spend time outside. The appeal sounds familiar to anyone who's watched Ottawa's run club boom over the past couple of years: show up, get moving, make friends, repeat.
From Running Shoes to Paddles
Run clubs have dominated Ottawa's social fitness scene for a while now, with groups popping up across neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Hintonburg, and the Byward Market drawing crowds every week. But pickleball, long associated with retirees and community centres, is having a moment with a much younger crowd.
Pickleball in the Park taps into the same appeal that made run clubs so popular: it's social first, athletic second. You don't need to be in peak shape to show up, the barrier to entry is low, and there's a built-in community waiting at the park. For a sport that requires just a paddle and a net, it's an easy sell in a city full of green space.
Why It's Catching On in Ottawa
Ottawa has no shortage of parks and public courts, which makes it an easy city for a pickleball group to take root and grow quickly. Since launching in May, Pickleball in the Park has more than doubled in size, according to members who spoke with CBC, and it shows no signs of slowing down as the pattern of after-work meetups continues through the warmer months.
The timing lines up with a broader trend across the city: young Ottawa residents are looking for ways to socialize that don't revolve around bars or restaurants. Group fitness activities, whether it's a run club along the Rideau Canal or a pickleball session at a neighbourhood court, offer a cheaper and more casual way to build community.
What This Means for Ottawa's Rec Scene
For a city that already has a packed calendar of outdoor recreation, from canal skating in the winter to beach volleyball in the summer, pickleball's rise adds another year-round option to the mix. As Pickleball in the Park keeps growing, expect to see more local courts booked up on weeknights, and possibly more copycat groups forming in other parts of the city.
If you're curious about joining, keep an eye on local social media groups and community boards, since pickleball meetups tend to spread by word of mouth just as fast as run clubs did.
Source: CBC Ottawa
