GREENSBORO, N.C. — Players in Greensboro have a dozen new places to swing a paddle. The city has opened 12 public pickleball courts at Bryan Park, and anyone can use them without paying a fee.
The courts replace a tennis complex at the park that had aged and drawn few players. The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation paid for the conversion.
Bryan Park sits in north Greensboro, close to Guilford College and the outdoor recreation around Lake Townsend, which puts the new courts within a short drive of neighborhoods such as Guilford Hills.
The timing tracks with how fast the game is spreading. Around 39 new courts go up across the country each day, and more than 24 million people now play. The quickest growth is among teens and young adults ages 13 to 24, a shift that local organizers say they are seeing across the Triad as well.
The Greensboro Sports Foundation sees a bigger payoff than weekend games for nearby residents. Jill Jones, who leads community engagement for the group, said she expects the site to land tournaments and events that pull in visitors. Because the loop of highways around the city makes the park simple to reach, she said, players could come from High Point, Winston-Salem and the Burlington area.
Local instructors are encouraging newcomers to give it a try. Beginners are welcome on the new courts, and all a first-time player needs is a paddle and a partner. Coaches pitch the game as easy to learn and good exercise, which is part of why it keeps drawing players of every age in Greensboro and across the region.
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