The Rise of Pickleball

The growing popularity of pickleball has resulted in the creation of more courts at parks as well as conflicts with tennis players.

1 minute read

November 15, 2021, 9:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


A mixed-doubles game of pickleball.

bhpics / Shutterstock

Pickleball is one of America's fastest growing sports. For those who don't know what it is, pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis.  Due to the sport's growing popularity, park agencies across the United States have created new indoor and outdoor courts, or made modifications to tennis courts to allow for pickleball play.  In this article, Margie Zable Fisher introduces readers to the sport and offers ten fun facts about the sport:

  1. Pickleball has been around for over 50 years.
  2. You don't need to be a pickle lover to play pickleball.
  3. Pickleball isn't just for old people.
  4. You can get a workout playing pickleball.
  5. Naples, Florida is known as "The Pickleball Capital of the World."
  6. Pickleball may eventually become an Olympic sport.
  7. You don’t need to have played tennis or even any racquet sports to excel at pickleball. 
  8. While many new pickleball courts are being built, some tennis courts have been repurposed as pickleball courts.
  9. Tennis pros of all ages and abilities are moving to pickleball. 
  10. Celebrities love pickleball.  

To learn more about pickleball, please read the source article and visit the USA Pickleball website.  Also, because some courts are shared between tennis and pickleball players, conflicts or disputes have arisen, as exemplified in this story

Monday, October 18, 2021 in Parade

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

45 minutes ago - Minnesota Reformer

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

1 hour ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit