Pickleball Lincoln Community Expansion: Pickleball is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in Lincoln, Nebraska. This weekend, a big team tournament took place across multiple city parks. Hosted by Pickleball Lincoln, the event brought players from nearby cities like Kansas City, Omaha, and Dallas. The games were held at Eden Park and two other locations in Lincoln.
Joel Houston, President of Pickleball Lincoln, said the tournament has gotten much bigger than expected.
“We’re utilizing three different parks across the city,” (Joel Houston).
Turning Tennis Courts into Pickleball Hotspots
Pickleball Lincoln is a volunteer group that helps grow the sport in the city. The group uses donations, membership fees, and tournament funds to build new courts. They work with Lincoln Parks and Recreation to change unused tennis courts into full-time pickleball spaces.
“A lot of our projects start with two underused tennis courts,”. “We fundraise to convert those into permanent, standalone pickleball facilities.”(Pickleball Lincoln representative)
Because of their efforts, Lincoln now ranks third in the U.S. for outdoor pickleball courts per person. The city has more than 40 public courts available for play.
More Than Just a Sport for Locals
According to USA Pickleball, almost 19.8 million Americans played the game in 2024, a big jump from past years. But in Lincoln, people say the sport is also about friendship and staying active.
“I was injured last year and had to take 12 weeks off,”. “The hardest part was being away from my friends. It’s not just a workout, it’s a community.”( local player Crystal Zamora)
Pickleball Lincoln also plans casual events like round robins and open court nights. These help more people join the fun and stay connected. One reporter watching the event even said,
“If I wasn’t doing my job as a reporter, I’d be playing in that tournament right now.”
To get started, officials recommend searching “pickleball” and your city online or using the Playtime Scheduler app to find local games and events.
News in Brief: Pickleball Lincoln Community Expansion
Pickleball Lincoln hosted a major team tournament this weekend at three parks across Lincoln. The nonprofit leads efforts to build new courts and grow the sport. The group is turning old tennis courts into public pickleball spaces and helping more residents enjoy both fun and fitness through community play.