P.E.I. town backs away from pickleball plan that prompted mayor to resign

KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — A town in central Prince Edward Island has decided not to proceed with a contentious pickleball plan that cost the community its mayor.

The Town of Kensington announced Wednesday that it was abandoning its plan to accept funding for six new pickleball courts, reversing a vote last week that prompted its mayor of 10 years to throw in the towel.

“This issue has been divisive within our community,” acting mayor Jeff Spencer said in a news release. “My hope is that we can now put this behind us and continue working together to build and strengthen our great community.”

Kensington town council narrowly passed a motion last week to accept $270,000 in funding for the courts, which would cost about $289,000 to build, thus leaving the town on the hook for about $19,000. Former mayor Rowan Caseley had recommended against the plan, saying the courts would eat up precious staff time and maintenance costs.

Nonetheless, the council voted 3-2 to proceed, which Caseley took as a vote of non-confidence, and he promptly resigned.

By Wednesday, the town had changed its tune. A news release said the municipality already has plenty on its plate: playground improvements, new sidewalks and expansion of the local wastewater treatment system, for example. There was no room for more projects, the news release said.

As well, the local pickleball club — whose members gathered in the chambers last week in what Caseley alleged was an effort to influence the vote — could not commit to the courts’ upkeep, the town said. Nor could it undertake the fundraising needed to contribute to the courts’ costs.

“While they were excited at the prospect of a new pickleball facility in the community, the development of pickleball courts does not align with the current priorities of the local pickleball club,” the statement said.

It also thanked Caseley for his “years of dedicated service and commitment.”

Kensington is a growing community of roughly 2,000 people. Its 2024-25 budget forecasts spending of nearly $4.4 million.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024.

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press