Pickleball could breathe new life into tennis courts

The Glenwood City Council has been asked to give its blessing to a proposal that would breathe new life into the city’s deteriorated tennis courts on South Vine Street.

Dr. Jacque Young told council members last week that the Southwest Iowa Pickleball Club is pursuing grants and other private funding that would finance the renovation of the tennis courts into six pickleball courts.

“As we drive south down Vine Street, we have a major eyesore with the tennis courts,” Young told council members at their Jan. 10 meeting. “Six (pickleball) courts could fit there.”

Interest in pickleball – a hybrid sport Young described as “a mixture of badminton, tennis and ping pong” – is growing nationally.

Pickleball courts have become extremely common among retirement communities in places like Arizona and Texas.

“Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States,” Young said, noting more than 25 million people play the sport and the U.S. has over 15,000 courts.

Pickleball was introduced to Glenwood last spring when the Mills County YMCA began offering the sport indoors.

The sport can be played by two or four players using rackets similar to those used for table tennis. The ball is similar to a wiffle ball. A pickleball court is considerably smaller than a tennis court.

“As we become older, we Americans realize we can’t move as fast as we used to,” Young said.

Young said the playing surface of the proposed pickleball complex could be built over the top of the tennis courts, meaning there would be no additional expense for asphalt removal and disposal.

Young said the pickleball club is in the process of getting bids for the proposed project.

Council members appear to be receptive to the club’s proposal.

“I think that part of town lacks aesthetics anyway,” Jessie Lundvall said. “If it gets kids out moving and creates more family time, I’m all for it.”

Craig Florian said he believes the pickleball courts could be a welcome addition to the Vine Street neighborhood.

“It’s something right away that has my attention,” Florian said.

Council members authorized the club to pursue grants for the project under the city’s name and urged Young to communicate about the project with the Glenwood Park Board, which oversees the city’s recreational facilities.