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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

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.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

5 seconds ago - Times of San Diego

Route 66 motel neon sign.

Albuquerque Route 66 Motels Become Affordable Housing

A $4 million city fund is incentivizing developers to breathe new life into derelict midcentury motels.

1 hour ago - High Country News

Green public transit bus at stop in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares

Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.

2 hours ago - The Washington Post

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.