The top 10 best places to play Pickleball ranked by city in the U.S.A.
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More Americans participated in at least one sport, fitness exercise, or outdoor recreation activity in 2022 than in any of the five previous years, according to the newly released Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Report.
In fact, Pickleball remains America’s fastest-growing sport in America for the third consecutive year. As of 2022, there were an estimated 36.5 million pickleball players in the U.S., growing at an average rate of nearly 159% over three years.
the Top 10 best places to play Pickleball
The surge in Pickleballs popularity is being spearheaded by vibrant cities such as New York, NY (ranking first), Austin, Texas (coming in at second place), and Tucson, Arizona (holding the ninth spot). For full rating metrics click here.
These urban centers stand out as prime destinations as places to play pickleball due to their plentiful availability of pickleball courts and clubs. Notably, these cities are also home to some of the largest and most active pickleball communities, making them ideal hubs for pickleball enthusiasts of all levels.
#1 – NYC, New York
New York city boasts the most pickleball facilities, 75, and courts, 279. NYC also offers the most free-to-play courts, increasing public access to the game.
According to Rachel Simon, author of Pickleball for All, “You can play casually but so many people get addicted to the sport and attend themed parties, wear specific clothing and sign up for adjacent exercise classes.”
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“New Yorkers are very resourceful and they make pickleball courts wherever and whenever they can,” explains Andy Peeke, lead pickleball pro at Life Time Sky in Manhattan. “You can go to a basketball or tennis court that is not in use or an empty parking lot, take your portable net and put it down anywhere. Chalk some lines and you have a court. The game has great mobility to be played anywhere.”
“New Yorkers that play pickleball know this but those that don’t don’t know it: it’s really just fun to play!” says the expert. “Pickleball turns us all into kids again.”
Looking for Pickleball near me? Here’s where to play pickleball in NYC.
#2 – Austin, Texas
No wonder Austin has made the top ten list of places to play pickleball. While there are numerous pickleball courts and clubs to get your “dink” (a special shot) on all over town, there are also several bars, restaurants, breweries, and other locations in the Central Texas area where you can eat and drink while enjoying a game of pickleball.
Officially Licensed Collegiate Pickleball Paddle – Texas Longhorns
Austin Pickleball enthusiasts will enjoy playing pickleball at the Parmer North park and venue, where there are two courts available for reservations and an additional court open to the public – all free to use, and paddles are available for rent.
In addition to an excellent game-day destination (whether it’s football or soccer), there are four onsite restaurants (Taco Flats, Ranger Burger, Smoke Show, and GA Roti), as well as the Coffee Club and two bars serving beers to frozen cocktails.
Looking for Pickleball near me? Here’s where to play pickleball in Austin, Texas.
#3 – Las Vegas, Nevada
There are a total of 47 pickleball courts in the Las Vegas / Henderson Area. Find the closest pickleball court to you.
PUBLIC COURTS
- Aloha Shores Park (4 Courts)
- Bill Briare Park (4 Courts)
- Black Mountain Recreation Center (6 Courts)
- Bob Price Recreation Center (6 Courts)
- Cadence Central Park (2 Courts)
- Cougar Creek Park (2 Courts)
- Dundee Jones Park (2 Courts)
- Durango Hills Park (7 Courts)
- Knickerbocker Park / Dorrel Park (7 Courts)
- Hollywood Regional Park (4 Courts)
- Huckleberry Park (4 Courts)
- Lone Mountain Park (4 Courts)
- Mission Hills Park (8 Courts)
- Oak Leaf Park Pickleball Courts
- Paradise Recreation Center (3 Courts)
- Police Memorial Park (4 Courts)
- Siena Heights Trailhead (3 Courts)
- Skye View Park (2 Courts)
- Stonebridge Park (4 Courts)
- Sunny Springs Park (2 Courts)
- Sunset Park Pickleball Complex (24 Courts)
- Whitney Mesa Tennis Complex (8 Courts)
COURTS WITH FEES
- Downtown Recreation Center (3 Courts)
- Horseshoe Las Vegas / Formerly Bally’s (14 Courts)
- Mirabelli Community Center (2 Courts)
- Plaza Hotel and Casino (13 Courts)
- Veterans Memorial Leisure Center (3 Courts)
- Westgate Las Vegas (6 Courts)
PRIVATE COURTS
- Anthem Country Club (4 Courts)
- Ardiente (4 Courts)
- Centennial Hills YMCA (3 Courts)
- Desert Vista Community Center (10 Courts)
- Durango Hills YMCA (2 Courts)
- Heritage at Cadence Community Center (6 Courts)
- Heritage at Stonebridge (6 Courts)
- Lake Las Vegas Sports Club (6 Courts)
- Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort (2 Courts)
- Liberty Center Sun City Anthem (8 Courts)
- Life Time Athletic Green Valley (8 Courts)
- Life Time – Summerlin (3 Courts)
- Red Rock Country Club (4 Courts)
- Regency of Summerlin (6 Courts)
- Reverence Pickleball Courts (4 Courts)
- Spanish Oaks Tennis Club (4 Courts)
- Sun City Aliante (8 Courts)
- West Career & Technical Academy (4 Courts)
- West Flamingo Senior Center (2 Courts)
#4 – Chicago, Illinois
Chicago was ranked #4 on the ratings report. Here are some places to play pickleball in Chicago.
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Social Pickleball Fun
A new social club will be coming to Chicago this winter. Social Pickleball Fun, or SPF, is the name of the pickleball social club that will debut in Lincoln Park at 2121 N. Clybourn Ave. The club will take over a 40,000-square-foot space in the Market Square shopping center that was once occupied by rock climbing gym Brooklyn Boulders, which closed last year.
Big City Pickle
With 30 courts across three locations in Fulton Market, 170 N. Green St., Goose Island, 1466 N. Magnolia Ave., and Gold Coast, 309 W. Oak St., Big City Pickle offers pickleball for beginners and advanced players, including tournament play. Visit chicagocitypickle.com for more information and to book games.
Here is where to find pickleball courts in the Chicago Park District.
#5 – Orlando, Florida
Welcome to the PickleDom! This Pickleball court complex is located in Orlando, Florida.
Visit Orlando writes “Fortunately, there’s no need for pickleball FOMO when you visit or live in Orlando, which boasts dozens of high-quality courts plus unparalleled instructional opportunities.”
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Craig Morris, chief executive of community tennis at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus in Orlando’s Lake Nona community, concurs. “The racquet sports industry has seen incredible growth in participation across a number of sports in recent years, including both tennis and pickleball,”It’s why the campus added four pickleball courts back in 2021.
Other places to play pickleball locations in Orlando, FL include:
- ClearOne Sports Centre. 4141 John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804
- Eastmonte Park. 830 Magnolia Dr, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
- Westmonte Park. 624 Bills Ln, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
For a full list of pickleball courts in Orlando, click here.
#6 – St. Louis, Missouri
Fenton is home to the nation’s largest indoor pickleball facility, a 51,000-square-foot sports complex featuring 18 courts, five championship courts, a pro shop, and more. A team of teaching professionals works on-site to school newcomers, and share tips and tricks. Members pay $20 per month to access the club’s courts, take lessons, and compete in events. (747 Gravois Bluffs, Fenton. 636-496-7051)
Tower Grove Park Tennis Center
Featuring eight outdoor concrete courts with permanent lines and nets, Tower Grove Park Tennis Center is popular for a reason.
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Tilles Park Pickleball
Tilles Park Pickleball offers players more great urban court space in the heart of St. Louis.
Looking for where to play? Here’s where to play pickleball in St. Louis, MO.
#7 – Mesa, Arizona
According to Global Pickleball network, there are 56 pickleball court locations in Mesa, Arizona. Pickleheads has compiled a list of courts here.
Search for more places to play pickleball in Meza here
#8 – Charlotte, NC
Offering recreational, open plays and tournaments, Charlotte,NC is #8 in the ratings for the top cities and places to play pickleball. Pickleball Charlotte is even offering Glow Pickleball, a trending pickleball event.
Another option is where Pickleball and Craft cocktails collide at Rally Pickleball.
#9 – Tucson, AZ
Coming in at #9 Tucson, AZ for pickleball cities. Makes sense. Pickleball is not just for play in this city. The social lifestyle is evolving around the sport with food and drink.
Provisions. Pickleball. LIVE MUSIC. Beer Garden.
Check out CORBETT’S, located at one of the most historic addresses in Tucson. Enjoy delicious food from Chef Omar Huerta at the restaurant, listen to live music 7 days a week, play pickleball with friends on one of their 5 courts (two are inside the Historic Corbett Building), and enjoy a beverage or snack in the beer garden.
#10 – Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Pickleball Club, the fastest-growing club in the Midwest, facilitates the growth of pickleball in and around the tri-state via partnership, volunteerism, pickleball lessons, and innovative thinking in order to meet the needs of all Cincinnati players.
Where to play pickleball in other top Pickleball cities
- Where to play pickleball in Dallas
- Where to play pickleball in Orange County, CA
- Where to play pickleball in Pittsburgh, PA
- Where to play pickleball in Hartford County, MD
- Where to play pickleball in Palm Beach, FL
Where is the largest pickleball facility?
Located in Stamford, Connecticut, one of the largest indoor pickleball venues in the US located in one of the anchor spaces of the Stamford Town Center mall in downtown Stamford, CT. The 80,000-square foot venue is the 1st of its kind!
Where can I find a List of Pickleball Clubs?
Wondering how or where to play pickleball? Why not start at a Pickleball Club for some lessons. To find a list of Pickleball clubs near you, USA Pickleball has a Pickleball Club finder on their website.
other notable Mentions
In Major League Pickleball, Picklers have the chance to play on either one of the 12 Premier-Level teams or 12 Challenger-Level teams.
To level up, players residing in cities such as San Francisco (ranked 15th) and Miami (ranked 14th) can readily elevate their skills by first joining a local pickleball team. Clubs in San Francisco, as listed on USA Pickleball, include the Golden Gate Pickleball Club or the San Francisco Pickleball Alliance.
While its population is too small for the ranking analysis, Naples, Florida, is a proud pickleball destination, claiming the title of “Pickleball Capital of the World.” Their county has invested over $4 million in pickleball facilities. The Paradise Coast also hosts the Minto US OPEN Pickleball Championships, the largest pickleball event in the world, growing to nearly 40,000 attendees in 2023.
The Villages in Lady Lake Florida boasts 229 pickleball courts.
Pickleball Community Volunteer Group (PCVG)
PCVG is a grass roots effort to enhance the enjoyment of all things pickleball “in” The Villages. Our website objective is to maintain a pickleball player ratings list, a calendar of pickleball events, a schedule for pickleball classes, an ANNOUNCEMENTS page with information regarding Villages’ pickleball clinics, social events, lessons, etc.
The Pickleball Community Volunteer Group (PCVG) consists of board members functionally organized to train and provide volunteers for Rec. Dept. Pickleball lessons, clinics, and tournaments for the enjoyment of the Pickleball community in The Villages.
And finally, in addition to all things pickleball, get ready for the First Pickleball Reality Show “Pickleball Paddle Battle”, set to debut in 2023.
The new reality competition show will showcase the “excitement and spirit of pickleball in addition to awarding major prizes to contestants,” according to a press release. Known to millions as the star of season 26 of The Bachelor in 2021, the 30-year-old Clayton Echard who will host the show was also a contestant on season 18 of The Bachelorette.
Resources:
According to the LL Pickleball City Ranking Study, which sourced city information from Google Ads, Major League Pickleball, Meetup, Pickleheads, USA Pickleball and Yelp, here are the top 25 cities where Pickleball is most popular. For the full LL ranking report, please see here.
Table 1 – Pickleball City Ranking Study, August 2023
| Rank | City | State | Overall Score | Access Rank | Community Rank | Popularity Rank |
| 1 | New York | NY | 76.65 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Austin | TX | 44.59 | 12 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Las Vegas | NV | 44.48 | 3 | 16 | 17 |
| 4 | Chicago | IL | 44.04 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Orlando | FL | 41.59 | 6 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 | St. Louis | MO | 40.28 | 4 | 14 | 34 |
| 7 | Mesa | AZ | 38.36 | 2 | 49 | 52 |
| 8 | Charlotte | NC | 37.08 | 8 | 15 | 18 |
| 9 | Tucson | AZ | 35.91 | 5 | 21 | 41 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | OH | 35.43 | 7 | 18 | 32 |
| 11 | Phoenix | AZ | 35.42 | 15 | 7 | 11 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | CA | 32.80 | 31 | 8 | 2 |
| 13 | Atlanta | GA | 31.92 | 18 | 13 | 6 |
| 14 | Miami | FL | 31.76 | 32 | 4 | 7 |
| 15 | San Francisco | CA | 31.33 | 25 | 6 | 12 |
| 16 | Houston | TX | 30.99 | 14 | 27 | 3 |
| 17 | San Diego | CA | 30.35 | 16 | 17 | 8 |
| 18 | Dallas | TX | 30.01 | 29 | 11 | 4 |
| 19 | Columbus | OH | 29.95 | 24 | 8 | 30 |
| 20 | Seattle | WA | 28.42 | 17 | 19 | 13 |
| 21 | Minneapolis | MN | 27.90 | 10 | 58 | 14 |
| 22 | Denver | CO | 27.53 | 11 | 73 | 10 |
| 23 | Washington | DC | 25.09 | 33 | 10 | 16 |
| 24 | Alburquerque | NM | 25.09 | 13 | 58 | 53 |
| 25 | Portland | OR | 24.50 | 28 | 20 | 28 |
Table 2 shows the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Cities for Pickleball Lovers. A weight was assigned to factors in three categories: Access, Community, and Popularity. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
| Metric | Weight | Best Value |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS | ||
| Number of Pickleball Facilities | 3 | Biggest |
| Number of Pickleball Courts | 3 | Biggest |
| Number of Dedicated Pickleball Courts | 4 | Biggest |
| Number of Free-to-Play Pickleball Courts | 2 | Biggest |
| Number of Recreation Centers | 2 | Biggest |
| Number of Pickleball Tournaments | 2 | Biggest |
| COMMUNITY | ||
| Number of Pickleball Groups | 2 | Biggest |
| Number of Pickleball Clubs | 2 | Biggest |
| Number of Premier-Level Teams | 2 | Biggest |
| Number of Challenger-Level Teams | 1 | Biggest |
| POPULARITY | ||
| Average Monthly Google Searches for Top Pickleball Keywords Over Past Year | 3 | Biggest |
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Happy People Pickleball
Happy People Pickleball is a Pickleball and lifestyle trends blog.
Follow us for ideas and trends in Pickleball clothes, beauty, jewelry, parties, gifting, equipment, fitness, health & wellness, and travel.
After a successful professional decade in a sales and marketing career, Brigette transitioned into the role of a dedicated stay-at-home mom and a passionate community volunteer, supporting local educational foundations and non-profit organizations for the benefit of children and the community.
You can mostly catch Brigette driving her kids to school or walking her Boston Terrier, CC and always trying to play her next game of Pickleball. Connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest!
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