The citizens of Fort Collins tend to be active sorts—enjoying a wide variety of sports and activities throughout the year. One of the fastest-growing sports in America today is the sport of Pickleball, a fast-moving, all-ages game that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, and Fort Collins is loving it.
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Playing pickleball provides a great workout, improving reflexes, agility, and hand-eye coordination, but is low-impact enough to be suitable for novices or individuals with physical limitations. It is a fast-paced sport that enhances strategic thinking and quick decision-making. In addition, pickleball is particularly well suited to playing with others of varying skill levels, making it a great community game.
What is Pickleball?
Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell first conceived of the idea in 1965 as a game to keep their families occupied, despite not having a full complement of badminton or tennis equipment handy. Over the next year or two, the men and their families refined the game, devising the game’s rules and experimenting with several different ball and racket combinations, including wiffle balls and ping pong paddles.
Joel’s wife, Joan, mentioned that the game reminded her of a pickle boat, a boat in a rowing race where the crew is made up of the “leftover” rowers (typically rowers who are less experienced or skilled at racing) and thus the name of the game became Pickleball.
Pickleball is an exceptionally versatile sport. It can be enjoyed by all ages, from young children to seniors, yet is still extremely challenging at higher skill levels. Games can be played indoors or outdoors, in doubles or singles, and unlike many other sports, it can be highly entertaining with very little previous instruction.
It is played on a smaller court than tennis, with the net between the playing areas several inches lower than a tennis net. The ball used is similar in many ways to a wiffleball but is usually made of heavier or harder plastic. A smooth-faced paddle similar to a ping-pong paddle but with a larger surface area is used to pass the ball from one side of the net to the other.
Popularity Surge
Since its invention in 1965, pickleball has become a global sport. Interest slowly but steadily increased until around 2020—then it surged. According to Pickleheads, the official court and game finder of USA Pickleball, participation has increased by 223.5% in the last three years, fueled in part by a desire to get outside after the COVID pandemic. It was a great way to get outdoors and get exercise while still being able to maintain some sense of social distancing.
Once the pandemic was over, the passion for pickleball remained, sustained by social media and word-of-mouth. Indoor and outdoor pickleball courts have been springing up all over the place, including several in Fort Collins, as have websites, tournaments, and pickleball groups.
Learning and Playing in Fort Collins
The massive popularity surge of pickleball has just as active in Fort Collins as in the rest of the country, if not more so. There are now more than 50 pickleball courts with public availability located in Fort Collins, popping up in gyms, local parks, and community centers. In addition, there are local groups and associations devoted to making pickleball more accessible and offering information, education, and training for all age levels.
Courts
Whether you’re in the mood to play on indoor courts or outdoor, with over 50 courts with public availability there’s bound to be at least a few to suit your preferences. Some of the most popular courts in the city include:
City Park Pickleball Court
1510 W Oak St
There are four outdoor hard courts dedicated to pickleball, with lights, permanent lines, and nets.
Spring Canyon Park Pickleball Court
3156 S Overland Tr
Spring Canyon Park has 12 outdoor hard courts with permanent pickleball lines. No pickleball net is provided at Spring Canyon so players will need to bring their own.
Twin Silos Pickleball Court
5552 Ziegler Rd
There are four outdoor courts dedicated only to pickleball at Twin Silos Pickleball Court, with both permanent lines and installed pickleball nets.
*You can reserve courts at city parks up to 30 days in advance at Lewis Tennis. Free play is available on all city park pickleball courts that are not already reserved.
Fort Collins Senior Center
1220 Raintree Dr
Three indoor wood courts with permanent lines are available at the Fort Collins Senior Center, along with portable nets. There is a one-time fee for using the courts at the Fort Collins Senior Center.
You can find more extensive lists of pickleball courts at the Pickleheads website and the City of Fort Collins.
Groups
The Fort Collins Pickleball Club is probably the most visible group in the city. They offer an opportunity for pickleball enthusiasts to connect with one another, as well as events, open court sessions, and lessons for all ages. In addition, they have been working with the city to build a new facility, which you can learn more about on the city website.
Pickleball Fort Collins is also active in the pickleball community, offering news and information about the sport of pickleball, local games and events, and links to local coaches.
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Penny Leigh Sebring is a Cohere member, experienced freelance writer, neophyte speculative fiction author, founder of Kiki’s Castle Independent Press, LLC, in Fort Collins, CO, and a gatherer of information and imaginary friends.