Image: Submitted / Encampments and other personal effects as shown in this picture from Garden City Park between Hazel Street and Garden Drive in Chilliwack.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Encampment at Chilliwack park

City of Chilliwack rejects petition for pickleball court at park where street people gather, deter kids/families

Oct 6, 2025 | 10:27 AM

CHILLIWACK — Despite a petition from nearly 60 nearby residents, the City of Chilliwack will not install pickleball courts at a local park where street people routinely gather, continuously loiter and deter kids and families from enjoying the space.

Fraser Valley Today has learned that a Chilliwack constituent submitted a petition asking that pickleball courts be installed at Garden Drive Park, located between Hazel Street and Garden Drive, in order to increase positive activity at the location.

The petition dated August 19, 2025 sought the installation of three pickleball courts as a way of providing opportunities for physical activity, social connection and community building. It said Chilliwack pickleball players had limited access to dedicated courts, creating long wait times and restricting participation in the healthy, inclusive sport.

“We, the undersigned, strongly support the creation of three pickleball courts at Garden City Park and are excited to welcome the sounds of play as part of a lively, healthy community space,” said the petition, which garnered 59 signatures from nearby residents.

The petition said the addition of pickleball courts at the park would support healthy, active lifestyles for youth, adults and seniors; provide an inclusive sport suitable for diverse age groups and ability levels; strengthen community ties by offering a shared recreational space; and attract informal play, community leagues and potential regional pickleball events.

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The petition came to light amid ongoing concern over the continued presence of street people in the park and activities surrounding drug consumption. The Chilliwack resident who shared the petition with Fraser Valley Today says street people and homeless campers used to stay away from the park when families and kids were at Garden City Park. Now, that’s changed.

Image: Submitted / Tents at Garden City Park.

Referring to an incident on a Friday night in late August, the resident told city staff, “Gosh we had some rowdies setting up in the park last night. They were barely there 10 minutes before the yelling started. The playground had quite a few kids there, enjoying the new equipment when the campers arrived. The kids left shortly after. Unfortunately, it used to be that when there were families at the park, the campers would not want to be there. Now they just start setting up and possibly are unaware/uncaring that there are children there.”

The petition, however, will not lead to any pickleball courts, according to an email from Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove that was obtained by Fraser Valley Today.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Garden City Park on Hazel Street as shown in this picture from Monday morning, Sept. 22, 2025.

“Thank you for your petition to request pickleball courts at Garden City Park. While we recognize that introducing new recreational amenities could increase positive activity at this location, unfortunately the request cannot be supported at Garden City Park,” Mayor Popove wrote.

Best municipal practice requires a significant separation distance between the courts and the adjacent residential properties, Popove told the constituent via email. Previous attempts at noise mitigation strategies, from courts within close proximity to property lines, have been found to be unsuccessful.

“Although current homeowners have signed-off in agreement that they will not submit formal complaints, the fact still remains that pickleball does generate sounds that have been measured and regulated in municipal Best Management Practices,” Popove said. “Moving forward with this initiative could place the City at risk of contravening not only these standards, but our own municipal noise bylaws as well.”

The email from Popove came after separate emails between the constituent and city staff in which municipal officials acknowledged ongoing issues with homeless people occupying the park. Mayor Popove said the city must abide by a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that allows street people to set up temporary shelters in city parks – with a caveat.

“Many years ago, the Supreme Court of British Columbia made a ruling stating that if there were no overnight shelter spaces available, people experiencing homelessness had to be permitted to set up temporary shelters in City parks,” Popove said. “As a result of this ruling, the City of Chilliwack amended the Parks, Recreation and Culture Bylaw to allow overnight shelters in public parks with conditions such as required distance from playground equipment, other shelters, landscaping, property lines, etc. Garden City Park is patrolled multiple times a day, 7 days a week, by Bylaw Enforcement Officers and security personnel to address illegal and nuisance activities and behaviours, such as drug use and sheltering contrary to the bylaw requirements.”

Image: Submitted

While bylaw enforcement officers and security personnel are often able to gain voluntary compliance when dealing with individuals in the parks, Popove said, they experience significant challenges when individuals refuse to comply, affording staff with very limited options when this occurs.

“We continue to work with the RCMP to address illegal and nuisance activities and for assistance in resolving issues within the parks. If you or your neighbours witness illegal or criminal behaviours, please call the RCMP at 604.792.4611 or 911 if it’s an emergency. If you witness bylaw violations taking place, please call the Bylaw office at 604.793.2908,” Popove said.

Popove says the provincial government is responsible for providing services to address homelessness such as social housing, as well as for providing other services that are often needed by those experiencing homelessness such as mental health and addictions treatment.

Image: Contributed

“Homelessness is a complex issue which requires significant collaboration with shelter, housing, social service and health sectors, and in 2016 the City therefore developed a Homelessness Action Plan, which is a comprehensive plan to address many components of homelessness, including the supply of appropriate units, agency coordination, health and safety, and self-sufficiency,” he said. “To date, there have been many successes from this plan, which include federal funding to support outreach and homelessness prevention programs; establishment of an Intensive Case Management Team (ICM); development of 200+ units of supportive and affordable rental housing; increased agency collaboration to address at risk situations; and increased shelter spaces while additional housing is being built. The City continuously lobbies the Province to take increased action, to increase services and supports, as they collect taxes to provide these necessary supports.”

In addition to the Homelessness Action Plan, Popove says the city developed a Community Safety Plan (https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2971), through which they work collaboratively with multiple partners including the MLA, School District 33, Fraser Health, BC Housing, RCMP, Ministry of Children and Families, and the Ministry of Public Safety to implement priority actions outlined in the plan. This includes establishing “boots on the ground” outreach seven days a week, supporting people in accessing and retaining housing, connecting people with health and social supports, and creating a wellness centre.