Thomasville Pickleball Court Expansion: In Thomasville, Georgia, local pickleball players continued their push for more playing space. With only three courts and growing demand, players are asking city leaders to build new courts, especially at Cherokee Lake Park, despite limited city funding.
Rapid Growth Outpaces Facilities
Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. In Thomasville, more people are playing each year. Herb Williams, a USA Pickleball Association ambassador, said,
“Back in 2023 they said there were 36 million people playing pickleball in the US and in 2024 there were 48 million.”
Williams has been working to grow the sport locally.
“About six years ago four people got together and played the first game of pickleball here in Thomasville and they started playing on Monday mornings,” (Herb Williams).
Today, thousands play the game in Thomasville, but the three courts are not enough.
Courts in Poor Condition
The city’s current courts are worn out and cannot be repaired.
“Those three courts are in really bad repair. And so that’s one of the reasons why we’re trying to ask the city to build new courts, is because those courts cannot be repaired.
They’re just in such bad shape that they can’t be repaired. They’d have to be torn out,” (Herb Williams).
To fix this issue, players are attending every city council meeting, pushing for new courts at Cherokee Lake Park.
City Response and Next Steps
City Councilmember Scott Chastain said the council is aware of the need.
“I think you’ve got a city council that is trying to find ways to accommodate. The need is there. We see it, and we hear you,” (Scott Chastain).
Williams also met privately with the city manager and assistant city manager. They agreed the sport is growing and helps the economy. But due to other ongoing projects, the city is asking the club to seek help from private donors or the county.
Forming a Nonprofit to Move Forward
To increase chances of raising money, the Thomasville Pickleball Association is considering becoming a nonprofit group. Williams said this move would help the club accept donations and apply for grants. He believes this will make it easier to build new courts for the community.
News in Brief: Thomasville Pickleball Court Expansion
Pickleball players in Thomasville, Georgia, are asking for new courts to meet rising demand. With current courts in poor shape and overused, players are attending city meetings and plan to form a nonprofit to raise funds. City leaders support the idea but face budget limits.
ALSO READ: Fountain of Life Classic Pickleball Tournament Brings Fun and Charity Together