The Vancouver Park Board will reopen 53 public tennis and pickleball courts in seven locations this weekend.

Courts atKitsilano Beach, Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Strathcona Park, Trout Lake, Memorial South Park, and Champlain Park will be ready for play on Saturday morning.

The park board says the city’s remaining 135 courts will begin reopening throughout next week with all courts open to play by May 15.

The courts were closed in Mid-March, along with most other park board facilities, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know many Vancouverites have been anxiously awaiting the time when they can return to our courts and we are extremely pleased to be able to safely reopen at our sites,” said park board chair Camil Dumont.

The courts will be available for drop-in casual games, but not lessons or league play.

Under new COVID-19 safety guidelines, tennis and pickleball players must: keep two metres apart at all times; limit play to single or doubles with partners from same household; and clearly mark their balls and refrain from picking up others’ tennis balls or pickleballs.

Players are also advised to not share racquets or other equipment.

The cities of Delta and New Westminster also announced on Friday that they were beginning to reopen their sport courts, fields and other outdoor amenities. (https://vancouversun.com/)