Pickleball Growth in Tri-Cities: Cris Anderson played a key role in bringing pickleball to St. Charles, Illinois. About 18 years ago, she discovered the game and worked to grow its local popularity. Today, the city has several courts, and the sport continues to expand across nearby towns and private clubs.
Anderson, born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, was a competitive volleyball player before moving to St. Charles in 1972. She first tried pickleball in Huntley after a friend invited her. Loving the game, she started playing with others at Colonial Ice Cream’s space in 2008.
Starting Pickleball in St. Charles
In 2008, Anderson and her husband Tom, president of Colonial Ice Cream, set up makeshift courts at their facility. About 20 couples signed up to learn and play. Soon, Anderson contacted St. Charles Park District staff and invited them to try the sport in Huntley.
The park district added pickleball as a drop-in activity in 2010. “Between our leagues, and tournaments and drop-in play, the game certainly has grown since then,” said Holly Cabel, St. Charles Park District director.
Growing the Sport
The first outdoor court in St. Charles was built in 2014. “People forget that our first outdoor court in 2014 was a single court at the Belgium Town Park (on Ninth Street, just north of Dean Street),” Cabel said. More courts soon followed at James Breen Community Park and Pottawatomie Park.
Nearby towns like Geneva also added courts. Private clubs have created indoor courts in old retail spaces. “It all starts dividing up between recreational players and those who like more competitive play,” Cabel explained.
Helping Spread the Word
Anderson praised Joy Duerr, who helped promote pickleball early on. Duerr and her late husband, Jon, were among the first players at Colonial. Duerr also helped Anderson with computer work to spread information about the sport.
“I am 76, and now there are kids playing pickleball who are 21 or younger,” Anderson laughed. “That was the way I approached the game with the park district years ago — that it is an intergenerational game. I can teach my grandkids how to play pickleball.”
A Lasting Impact
Pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the area. The St. Charles Park District now has 13 outdoor courts and several indoor spaces. Pickleball leagues, tournaments, and drop-in games attract new and experienced players.
With National Pickleball Month happening now, Anderson’s 17-year love for the sport is clear. Her work has made pickleball a game for all ages in St. Charles.
News in Brief: Pickleball Growth in Tri-Cities
Cris Anderson introduced pickleball to St. Charles 18 years ago. Starting with makeshift courts in 2008, she helped the park district launch the sport in 2010. Today, the city has 13 outdoor courts, and pickleball is a popular, fast-growing, and intergenerational sport enjoyed by people of all ages in the area.
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