Toledo’s New Pickleball Courts: The University of Toledo has opened a new set of seven pickleball courts for its faculty, staff, and students. Located near the Varsity T pavilion on Main Campus, the courts were opened for spring after being shut down for the winter.
Access and Reservations
The new courts are accessible to members of the UToledo community through swipe cards or mobile credentials. Those interested in reserving a court can do so by completing the Facility Space Request Form available on the Office of Recreational Services website.
Repurposing Old Courts
The new pickleball courts replaced two tennis courts and a basketball court, all of which required major updates. Mike Dennis, senior associate vice president for finance, auxiliaries, and treasurer, explained that the old courts weren’t being used often and needed renovation.
“Those courts weren’t getting a whole lot of use and needed to be renovated. We sought student feedback and pickleball seemed to be the clear choice for the future of that location. It was a nice opportunity for us to bring to campus a sport that has seen its popularity grow wildly in recent years.” – (dennis)
Pickleball’s Rapid Growth
Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, is growing rapidly in popularity. The sport is played on a court about a quarter the size of a tennis court. A report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association in November 2024 showed that pickleball had been the fastest-growing sport for three consecutive years, with a 223% growth rate.
Future Plans
Currently, UToledo’s pickleball courts are available only to faculty, staff, and students. However, there are plans to make the courts available for rent by the broader Toledo community by summer. The Office of Recreational Services is also considering setting up summer leagues for the public.
The courts are lighted for early morning or evening play, and bleachers are expected to be installed soon.
News in Brief: Toledo’s New Pickleball Courts
The University of Toledo has opened seven new pickleball courts on Main Campus for faculty, staff, and students. The courts replace old tennis and basketball courts and are available through swipe cards. Future plans include making them accessible to the broader community and setting up summer leagues.
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