Pickleball Obsession In Dallas: From Gen Z to Millennials

Pickleball Obsession In Dallas: In Dallas, pickleball has become the sport of choice for Gen Z and millennials, even in the scorching summer heat. A stroll past Cole Park on a weekday evening reveals a scene of 20- to 30-year-olds fervently engaged in pickleball. What was once seen as a pastime for the older generation has become a vibrant social and recreational activity, fueled by the broader popularity of paddle sports. As the trend is reminiscent of Zendaya’s role in Challengers, John McEnroe’s narration in Never Have I Ever, and young stars like Naomi Osaka, Pickleball obsession in Dallas becoming a new trend.

Pickleball For Gen Z  & Millennials: New Social Scene

“It’s just something to do after work I think, and I think a lot of young people like to stay active and be outside, At this point in Dallas, it feels like the choices are the Katy Trail or this.”

-(Tonia Darabadey)

Darabadey, along with friends Farrah Ata and Melanie Ekizian, frequently spends evenings at Cole Park, which has become so popular that there’s often a line just to place a paddle in the holder.

The sport’s surge has even created tensions between tennis and pickleball players over court space, but this only adds to the scene’s charm. “It’s free and we get to catch up in between the games, so it’s like social time. Instead of going out to eat or eating unhealthy, you can be social,” Ata said.

Expanding Social Circles Through Pickleball

Maharshi Adeshara, 29, who started playing pickleball a little over a year ago, describes it as a powerful social connector. “I have made a lot of new friends here, so it’s good that sport brings different people together from different diversities,” he said. The sport’s low commitment and social flexibility make it particularly appealing to young professionals.

Cole Park’s atmosphere encourages spontaneous participation, with newcomers often joining in solo. “It isn’t a big commitment,” Ekizian said. “You can drop in, you can play for one game. You can play for five. Your friend can leave. You can stay by yourself or come by yourself and meet new people. It’s very flexible.”

Pickleball As a Key Social Activity

Ata’s Apple Watch updates her colleagues on her pickleball activities. “They are like, ‘Oh, you played pickleball last night,’” she said. For newcomers like Jack Britton, 26, pickleball has been a gateway to Dallas’ social scene. “I moved here six months ago, so I didn’t know anyone,” Britton shared. “I met almost all my friends through work and pickleball.”

Britton often plays on Cole Park’s advanced Challenge Court, where winners stay on to face new challengers. “I play competitively. It’s all fun, but … you get a kind of relief after. It’s a stressful time, but it’s a fun stress.”

Early Risers And The Pickleball Addiction

For some enthusiasts, pickleball is more than a pastime—it’s a commitment. Rian Jones, 32, Kurtis Tubby, 39, and Weston Pugh, 53, start their days at 6 a.m., playing doubles to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” as part of their preparation for evening games with Pride Sports Dallas’ indoor pickleball. “We know we’re very intense,” Jones said, describing their pickleball obsession that even involves drying the courts with towels and leaf blowers after rain.

The group, consisting of former tennis and ping pong players, finds pickleball’s social dynamics particularly appealing. “You see people meeting each other,” Pugh said. “I think it’s an interesting way for young people to meet other young people and probably date.”