Recreation

Outdoor pickleball coming to Pleasant Grove

Years ago, Pleasant Grove City hired Linda Weeks as a recreation coordinator, and she introduced pickleball to the staff at the Pleasant Grove Recreation Center. It wasn’t long before the city invested in nets and paddles and created opportunities to play indoors at the Recreation Center.

The city was amazed at how quickly the sport caught on. Open play filled up quickly; more nets were purchased and more times set apart to keep up with the demand.

The beauty of pickleball was the wide array of ages of those showing up to play. Young and old could compete against each other on a pretty level playing field. Experience, regardless of age, was the key component to a good pickleball player. As the excitement for the sport grew in Pleasant Grove, the question being asked was, “When will Pleasant Grove get outdoor courts?”

Over the past few years, Pleasant Grove City has purchased homes along Locust Avenue between Veterans Park and the Recreation Center. The intent was to expand Veterans Park at some time in the future. Last year, the Pleasant Grove City Council set aside funds to follow through on that expansion. Included in the expansion were new restrooms, a new pavilion and eight new pickleball courts.

The courts are being built with top-of-theline construction techniques and they will be lit at night. The new courts will help fill the ever-expanding need to accommodate those using pickleball as a form of recreation and exercise.

The pickleball courts are scheduled to open on Saturday, June 12. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held that day at 11 a.m. as part of the 100th Strawberry Days Celebration. We invite all to attend the ribbon cutting and also use this new facility.