New Pickleball Courts in Richmond: Richmond has officially stepped into America’s pickleball craze, celebrating the opening of a new service with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday afternoon. City officials, alongside enthusiastic community athletes, gathered to mark the occasion, showing the city’s commitment to accommodating the sport’s rising popularity.
New Pickleball Facility and Future Plans
Following the ceremony, the first games commenced on the six new courts, a project city officials report has been in the works for approximately one year. Dan McBride, Vice Chair of the City Parks and Recreation Board, expressed optimism about the future of pickleball in Richmond.
“We have these six courts that are open now. We have 12 more that are coming when the new park at the Richmond Sports Complex opens, and those 12 courts will also have lights.”
“And who knows, between now and then, we may even need more courts, because pickleball is still growing.”-(McBride)
Community Demand
The initiative to build the courts originated from a request by Richmond resident Kent Miller, who approached the city’s parks department a year ago. Miller, a former tennis player, finds the sport appealing due to its accessibility and interesting nature.
“I’m sort of a former tennis player, so this is a lot like tennis without the running,”
“It’s easier to control. A lot of people played ping pong when they were younger, and this is a lot like it in a way, except you get to move some.”-(miller)
National Trend
News in Brief: New Pickleball Courts in Richmond
Richmond recently inaugurated a new pickleball facility featuring six pickleball courts, with plans for an additional 12 courts at the Richmond Sports Complex in the future. City Parks and Recreation Board Vice Chair Dan McBride showed the sport’s growth, stating the new courts will help meet community demand.
Resident Kent Miller, who demanded the construction of the courts, praised pickleball’s accessibility and similarity to tennis. Nationally, 10 percent of tennis courts have been converted for pickleball, reflecting the sport’s expanding popularity across the United States.
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