History of the VPA
2011
Anybody Want to Play Pickleball?
After spending the winter in Rincon de Guayabitos, Mexico playing Pickleball, Wally Herrmann decided to place an ad in the local paper to see if anyone was interested in playing in Vernon.
In July of 2011 the first pickleball sessions were held at Priest Valley Gym playing with a group of about twelve players including Bruce Simpson, Bob & Sylvia Dilworth, MJ & Lloyd Webber, and Ken & Pat Andrews who just happened to vacation in the same town in Mexico as Wally and his wife Barb.
This was the start of pickleball in Vernon and where the name for our latest addition - Herrmann House - comes from.
2013-14
Vernon Pickleball Association is Formed
Wally Herrmann and Bruce Simpson were appointed by Pickleball Canada as area ambassadors and for the next two years they ran the ever-expanding group, while continually requesting more and more playing time from the city. In September of 2013 the Vernon Pickleball Club was formed.
Just 14 months later the Vernon Pickleball Club along with the Greater Vernon Pickleball Association joined forces and became the Vernon Pickleball Association with Society status on November 27, 2014.
The club continued to grow quickly and worked with the City to have pickleball lines painted and dedicated court time at MacDonald and Sawicki Parks, as well as Mount Ida in Coldstream. Through the winter, players played in any gym that would have them including Priest Valley Gym, Okanagan Landing School and Lavington Elementary School. During this time, the club also had its eye on the prize at the end of the road - dedicated pickleball courts.
2017
Fundraising
The Regional District of the North Okanagan (RDNO) granted VPA $300,000 to build the courts at Marshall Fields and a lease agreement was signed between RDNO, the City of Vernon and the VPA.
VPA was to manage the construction and operations of the courts with the City of Vernon leasing the land to VPA. The first round of dedicated court fundraising began and the rest, as they say, is history.
2018
Construction and Grand Opening!
In May of 2018 construction started on 12 outdoor pickleball courts.
In July 2018, a Special General Meeting was held by VPA to vote on borrowing additional funds. The City of Vernon offered the VPA an interest free loan for the $145,000 required to complete the construction of the courts in the summer of 2018. The vote passed unanimously. The total cost for the courts was $750,000.
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August 25, 2018 marked the grand opening of the VPA Pickleball Complex at Marshall Fields... and it was Game on!
2020
Raising the Roof
In May 2020, a Town Hall meeting was conducted to discuss the start of Phase II, “Raising the Roof”. The cost required to cover the courts with a steel truss and fabric covering was estimated at $1.4 million.
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In July 2020, VPA members voted in favour of the project and by September $1.2 million was raised from the generous and supportive membership. Additionally, the City of Vernon contributed the $200k DCCs (Development Cost charges) fee that was assessed against the construction project.
November 2020, the first trusses arrived and construction began. Construction was completed in April of 2021 providing VPA and the City of Vernon with the largest indoor pickleball facilities in Canada at the time.
2023-24
Herrmann House Addition
The Herrmann House project is a 2000 square foot addition to the pickleball complex located at the front of the existing courts. The new building provides office and meeting space to support club operations, a reception/seating area and public washrooms.
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The addition was completed - with the help of many volunteers - just a few hours before the 2024 Western Regionals Championships started. The total cost of the addition was $1.5 million.
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Without the help of many generous donors and volunteers, this facility would not be possible. The pickleball community in Vernon is exceptional in its enduring passion, dedication and contribution to the success of the VPA club and the pickleball complex.
