Independence Park Pickleball Courts: The Johnson County Board of Commissioners and Johnson County Parks and Recreation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Monday to open eight new pickleball courts at Independence Park. The park is located at 2100 South Morgantown Road in White River Township.
The new courts were built to meet growing local demand for more places to play pickleball. The sport is becoming more popular across the country, and these are the first dedicated courts in unincorporated Johnson County.
Built With Federal Funds
The project was paid for using part of the county’s $31 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal relief fund approved under former President Joe Biden to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson County Commissioners approved the construction bid from All Star Paving in September 2024. The company completed the $304,880 project earlier this year.
Growing Demand for Courts
Nearby cities like Greenwood and Bargersville already have pickleball courts. Now, unincorporated parts of the county are catching up.
Greenwood is building 16 more courts at Independence Park this year. In Franklin, a tennis court was changed to a pickleball court last year to give more space for local players.
Pickleball’s Rise in the U.S.
Pickleball is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The 2024 annual report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows the sport has grown in all age groups and all parts of the U.S. for three years in a row.
Pickleball participation has grown by 311% over the past three years. The average age of players is now 34.8 years old, showing more young people are joining the game.
What Comes Next
As the number of pickleball players rises, cities and counties are adding new courts to meet the need. Johnson County’s new courts at Independence Park are part of this trend. Local leaders hope the courts will give more people the chance to stay active and enjoy the sport.
News in Brief: Independence Park Pickleball Courts
Johnson County officials will open new pickleball courts at Independence Park on Monday at 1 p.m. The eight courts, built using federal COVID-19 relief funds, address the growing popularity of pickleball. They are the first courts in unincorporated Johnson County and support the sport’s nationwide growth.
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