Miami-Dade Backyard Pickleball Courts: Families in Miami-Dade County are building their own pickleball courts at home due to limited space and crowding at public courts. From South Miami to Kendall, residents like Robert Mendez, Sergio Garcia, and Luis Alonso are turning their yards into private spaces for fun, fitness, and competition.
Robert Mendez and his wife, Kathy Mendez, began playing pickleball in January 2018 but struggled to find open courts. Many public parks had few pickleball courts, long wait times, and clashes with tennis players over shared space. Frustrated, they decided to build a court at their South Miami home in 2021.
From Public Trouble to Private Courts
Robert Mendez compared his experience with other places:
“I was disappointed because my wife and I had played pickleball in other states such as Colorado and North Carolina, and they had plenty of courts,”. “Even closer to home in Naples or Fort Lauderdale, they didn’t have this problem.”(Robert Mendez)
To fix that, the Mendezes built their own court with help from friends. It includes lights, a sitting area, and cost them about $26,000. Robert Mendez saved money by hiring contractors only for specific parts like concrete work and fencing.
“I’m a do-it yourself guy,”. “I got a contractor to put the concrete down. I had to wait 30 days, and then I got a guy to paint the court and put down the lines.”(Robert Mendez)
Robert Mendez said regular practice at home helped him improve:
“You get better by drilling,“and, by having your own court, we can also invite better players over. They like it because they don’t have to wait forever for court time.”
Kathy Mendez added,
“I’ve been able to bring instructors here for group lessons. It’s very convenient.”
Building More Than One Court
Sergio Garcia, a doctor from Kendall, had doubts at first. He didn’t even join his wife, Michelle Garcia, the first time she planned a pickleball outing. But after playing once, he quickly changed his mind.
“I got hooked pretty quickly,” Sergio Garcia said with a laugh. “Within a few months, we decided to build our own court.”
The Garcias didn’t stop at one court—they built two, costing $24,000 each, plus $9,000 for lighting. Sergio Garcia explained why:
“With one court, you can only have about six players, rotating in and out,”. “And then how do you decide which people to invite? With two courts, you can at least have 12 people.”(Sergio Garcia)
He also created a weekly schedule. Mondays are for advanced players, Wednesdays include coaching, Thursdays are for 4.0-level players, and there’s also a mixed-doubles night.
“We try to do it by skill level so that the games are competitive and nobody gets picked on,” Sergio Garcia said.
He even bought a ball machine for more practice and said the courts made him well-known:
“If you talk to enough people, “they will tell you, ‘Oh yeah, the doctor who has two courts.’”
The Mango Court in Kendall
Luis Alonso, a real-estate developer from Kendall, built his own court in June 2023. He switched from racquetball to pickleball during the COVID pandemic.
“After I started playing pickleball,” Luis Alonso said, “I never went back indoors for racquetball again.”
His outdoor court, called “Mango Court,” cost $17,000 and is surrounded by mango trees. It does not have lights.
Luis Alonso’s wife, Hilda Alonso, also enjoys the court.
“This is the first sport I’ve ever played in my life,”. “Pickleball helps with everything – even your mental state. It’s an all-around fun sport anyone can play, and I truly love it.”(Hilda Alonso)
Community Courts and Personal Benefits
As more families face crowded public spaces, backyard pickleball courts are becoming a smart and fun solution. They give players control over schedules, more time to practice, and a safe place to learn and improve. The sport continues to grow, and home courts may become even more common in Miami-Dade.
News in Brief: Miami-Dade Backyard Pickleball Courts
Pickleball fans in Miami-Dade County are building home courts due to busy public spaces. Families like the Mendezes, Garcias, and Alonsos turned their backyards into pickleball spots. These private courts offer more playtime, training, and community fun, showing how popular and accessible the sport has become.
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