Calling all pickleball enthusiasts!
Denver Parks and Recreation may have heard some of your cries. The agency announced that it is increasing the number of indoor pickleball courts this month and outdoor ones in the coming years.
Denver Parks and Recreation said it added 13 pickleball courts to seven recreation centers scattered across the city for a total of 66 indoor courts.
Those indoor courts are being added to Ashland, College View, Green Valley Ranch, La Alma, Rude, St. Charles and Swansea rec centers. The pickleball schedules are currently posted on each center's website.
The agency said they will be putting aside funds throughout the year to convert 15 temporary courts into permanent ones.
Drop-in play hours will also expand by more than 30% to continue increasing access to the sport. The increase would be 200 hours of play time available at 27 recreation centers.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and it took off in Denver during the pandemic, causing a bit of a stir at times.
The indoor and outdoor pickleball courts have sometimes been a sour topic for players, Denverites and the agency.
In November, parks and rec closed the outdoor pickleball courts at Eisenhower Park after nearby residents complained about the noise and that some players weren't adhering to the time rules.
In response to the closure, the agency increased pickleball hours at the Eisenhower rec center by 20 total weekly hours.
Last year, parks and rec established a pickleball planning and advisory group to foster better relations between the agency and players, as well as plan next steps for the sports growing needs.
Six outdoor pop-up courts were added to Martin Luther King Jr. Park, giving the space a total of 10 pickleball courts. The agency said the courts will remain open until they are converted into permanent courts.
And more courts are coming.
Parks and rec said it will begin the design process for new courts at the Lowry Sports Complex and in Rosamond Park in the Hampden South neighborhood this year. Depending on available funding, construction will begin later this year or early 2025.
Several courts will also be built in the new High Point Park in Gateway. That park is currently under construction and there will be six courts.
Officials said by the end of 2025, there will be 50 outdoor pickleball courts.
