GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro has a new spot for one of the country’s hottest games. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department cut the ribbon Wednesday on a 12-court pickleball complex at Bryan Park, and the courts are open to the public at no charge.
The new courts are beside the Bryan Park Enrichment Center, whose address is 6275 Bryan Park Road in Browns Summit. Crews built it on the site of an aging tennis complex that had seen little use, and the project also added a restroom building. The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation paid for the work.
Opening day included demonstrations and an open play session for anyone who wanted to try a paddle. For many north Greensboro households the complex is close to home. Bryan Park is part of the city’s outdoor recreation area along with nearby Lake Townsend, and mid-century neighborhoods such as Guilford Hills, which sits within easy reach of Bryan Park, and Kirkwood, along the North Church Street corridor, are known for being close to the park. Players there now have a dedicated pickleball site within a few minutes’ drive instead of sharing lined tennis courts elsewhere in town.
Leaders of the Greensboro Sports Foundation say demand keeps climbing. They describe pickleball as the fastest-growing recreational sport in the nation, with more than 24 million players, and say the quickest growth is among people ages 13 to 24 rather than retirees alone.
Local boosters also see the courts as a draw for tournaments. The site is a short drive for players from High Point, Winston-Salem and the Burlington area, which could bring visitors and spending to Greensboro. Organizers stressed that beginners are welcome and need little more than a paddle and a partner to start.
Section: More Greensboro NC sports news
Greensboro sports business profiles
Filed under: Greensboro NC Sports News
