Pickleball facilities pop up across East Tennessee as participation booms
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Dozens of new pickleball facilities are opening here in East Tennessee as the sport is taking the country by storm. Second Harvest Food Bank is hosting a tournament at the Pavilion of Pickleball in West Knoxville at the Cedar Bluff Racquet Club raising money for the food bank.
It's one of the fastest growing sports in the country. That's no different here in East Tennessee as more and more people start picking up the sport. Elize Kikkert and Elizabeth Bentley-Shelton both work at the Pavilion of Pickleball that opened nearly five years ago.
'People really flock to this because it was an activity that they could do. For a while we had a lot of members because we were the only indoor facility in Knoxville,' said Pavilion of Pickleball General Manager Elize Kikkert. 'Now, because we have more [places to play], it's spread out a little bit more because people from Maryville don't have to drive a long way here so they go to other places that are closer to them.'
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The sport has grown exponentially over the last several years, leading to tournaments that draw hundreds of players, like the one Second Harvest is hosting. The sport once tabbed as one for the older generation has turned younger in recent years leading to increased competition.
'It mixes around, you know, old people play with the young people,' Kikkert said. 'I think it's changed the game of Pickleball a little bit though because the younger people tend to hit it a lot harder, so I think it changed the dynamics of the game a little bit. Overall, it's very fun to see.'
Pickleball also proves that age is just a number when it comes to staying active and having fun.
'During my play, we've got a homeschool group and the Summer Cathleagues doing their summer sports camp here,' Assistant General Manager Elizabeth Bentley-Shelton said. 'When I first started working for the Knoxville City Parks and Rec, one lady that came and played was 93-years-old and I played with her. Another man was 92 and he was amazing, both of them. Like Elize said, it's from little to big.'
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When POP first opened during Covid, it was a way for people to get out and socialize while getting exercise as well. On the court, strangers become friends and the more people you play with the bigger the community will grow.
'These are people at first you never knew and now big buddies with them. My contact list on my phone that says pickleball, pickleball, pickleball is unreal,' Bentley-Shelton said. 'It's crazy and everybody likes everybody, we're all friendly that's the good thing.'
The Pavilion of Pickleball may have been the first indoor facility to open in Knoxville, but several others have followed suit. In Karns, the Pickleball Playground recently opened along with Big Orange Pickleball in Strawberry Plains, Premiere Pickleball Club Knoxville and Pickleville off Topside Rd. in Louisville.
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There are also plenty of outdoor courts at many area parks including West Hills, Lakeshore Park and Sam Duff Park.
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