Pickleball is taking over the nation. The fast-growing sport, a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has drawn the interest of professional athletes such as Tom Brady and LeBron James, who are part of a professional league, and celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Bill & Melinda Gates. But the sport has grown as people around the nation, especially seniors, have taken to the courts.

Pickleball is played on a 20-by-44 foot court with a paddle and plastic ball. Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District has pickleball courts at Jim Venable Exchange Club Park, Diamond Valley Lake Community Park, Aldergate Park, Heritage Lake Sports Park, Conestoga Park, and Veteran's Park. If you have your own portable nets the District also has court lines painted at Abelia Sport Park and Crown Valley Park as well. 

So how does one get started in pickleball? While there are no organized programs in our District, all our courts are busy. To watch the sport, visit any of the sites any morning and you will likely see games being played.

Courts at Jim Venable Exchange Club Park in Valle Vista are especially busy on Monday and Wednesday mornings, so stop by and watch a game or two. Pickleball players are a friendly lot, and they will share tips about how to get started. Find our park locations at gorecreation.org.