The country’s fastest-growing sport has come to Mt. Lebanon Park, providing both beginners and seasoned pickleball players with a brand-new facility in which to hone their skills.
Opened since this past April, the six pickleball courts got a splash of color with fresh blue and green paint and permanent lines in June. Residents and non-residents alike can reserve a court for $12 an hour. Players can reserve courts online with CourtReserve, or walk up to the front desk to reserve a court. A minimum of one hour is required for reservation.
Mt. Lebanon Racket Center Facility Manager Darin Rauso sees the park’s newest addition as a necessity.
“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country,” Rauso said. “As we transitioned to a full ‘racket center’ model, we knew we needed to add pickleball to our offerings. Residents have been asking for it, and we wanted to provide dedicated courts alongside tennis and platform tennis.”
The new Racket Center model at the park includes 13 tennis courts, six pickleball courts and four platform tennis courts all in one location. Having all three racket sports together gives residents more opportunities to play and makes the facility a destination, Rauso added. The construction of the six courts necessitated the reduction of two of the park’s tennis courts. However, so far, that’s been well-received by the community.
“We knew there would be some concern anytime you reduce the number of tennis courts, but we felt comfortable making the change because we started with 15 courts,” said Rauso. “Even after the conversion, 13 tennis courts is still a significant number, and we can continue to meet demand while expanding opportunities for pickleball.”
The pickleball courts are located along Cedar Boulevard, which makes them highly visible. People driving or walking by can see the activity and discover what’s happening at the Racket Center. The location also helps with staff supervision and minimizes concerns about noise, according to Rauso.
Rauso also noted that the pickleball courts are just one part of a larger investment in the Racket Center. They have replaced fencing, upgraded the tennis court lighting to LED and added a state-of-the-art hitting wall as well.
Pickleball’s popularity, said Rauso, is largely because of its low barrier to entry for players.
“It’s a very approachable sport,” he said. “Someone who’s never played before can pick up a paddle and start having fun right away. We offer beginner clinics, instructors and loaner paddles, so it’s easy for anyone to give it a try.”
“I think one of the biggest draws is that people can learn the game quickly and enjoy it almost immediately. It’s similar to tennis, but the learning curve is much shorter.”
