Dane County Pickleball Boom: Pickleball is quickly gaining popularity across Dane County, Wisconsin, including in Madison, where the number of courts and players continues to grow. Though still more common among older adults, the sport is drawing younger players, fueling investments in new facilities and plans for more dedicated courts throughout the region.
Invented in 1965, pickleball has recently taken off in Dane County. According to the Capital Area Pickleball Association (CAPA), there are now 246 courts at 71 locations across the county. CAPA, which began in 2015 with about 150 members, now has around 1,475 people who pay $15 yearly to join. Members get access to free classes and discounts on equipment.
“It has an appeal to all,” said Kevin McPherson, president of CAPA. “It’s really a sport that just about anyone can pick up. Almost everyone has fun from the very first time they’re on the court.”
More Courts, More Players
Courts have popped up in parks, school gyms, and indoor clubs like Hitters Tennis & Pickleball Club in Middleton, Pickle Pro Courts in Madison, and Dill Dinkers, a 10-court indoor center set to open on the Southeast Side.
Pickleball Kingdom, a national chain, also plans to open a facility in Sun Prairie. While it has not shared details on the number of courts or exact location, its other locations include 17 courts in Menomonee Falls and 11 in Appleton.
Despite growing interest, Madison still has fewer dedicated outdoor courts than nearby cities. Madison has only six dedicated public pickleball courts, located at Garner Park on the West Side. These opened in 2016 after players helped raise $20,000 of the $60,000 needed for construction.
In contrast, smaller communities like Cottage Grove and Sun Prairie have 12 and 10 dedicated courts, respectively. Verona added six courts in 2024, raising its total to 10.
Future Court Plans
Currently, Madison has 60 striped pickleball courts marked on tennis courts at 19 parks, where players often share space with tennis players. These courts can cause confusion due to different markings and nets.
To improve access, the city plans to build eight dedicated courts at Warner Park as part of a major redevelopment, expected to start in 2026. Other planned locations include Old Timber Park (two courts), Country Grove Park, and Vilas Park, with work scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
At Olbrich Park, two tennis courts were marked in 2023 for use as four pickleball courts with portable nets. Many of the city’s 85 tennis courts were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are now aging.
“Repairs on these older facilities are more costly and last shorter periods of time as they age,” said Adam Kaniewski, parks planning and development manager for Madison. “As the popularity of (pickleball) has continued to grow, we recognize that dual striped courts no longer meet the expectations of some players which is why we are planning to add dedicated pickleball courts to the parks system in the coming years. Additionally, dedicated pickleball facilities will be a consideration when replacement and reconstruction of existing court facilities move forward.”
Suburban Growth Leads the Way
Suburbs are adding more courts faster than Madison. Fitchburg is expanding its McGaw Park courts from eight to 12. Middleton is building six new pickleball courts and two tennis courts at Lakeview Park. McFarland added eight lighted courts in 2022, and Oregon opened six new courts in 2023 at Jaycee Park.
Indoor Spaces Also Growing
Hitters Tennis & Pickleball Club has changed over the years to meet rising demand. It opened in 2008 as a baseball facility and was converted to a tennis center in 2011. In 2014, it marked two youth courts for pickleball. In 2017, it striped four more courts. Then in 2022, it added three courts in space once used for batting cages.
Jenny Rilling began playing seven years ago and now plays up to four times a week. She first picked up the sport during a class at Memorial High School.
“I immediately fell in love with it. It’s fun and easy and is just a great game,” said Jenny Rilling. “I think it’s accessible. I mean, I play 80 year-olds who can barely move but they have great court skills. So you can play with a variety of skills and a variety of people.”
Business Impact of Pickleball
According to Joel Tennison, general manager at Hitters, pickleball now brings in 30% of the club’s income. It helps keep courts full during summer and allows players to avoid bad weather. In the winter, up to 350 people come through daily. A recent tournament raised $22,000 for diabetes research and had 200 players.
Greg Iserman, tennis and pickleball coach at Hitters, said most games are doubles and court times are reserved. Players pay $99 per month or $15 per person for a two-hour drop-in session.
“It’s hard to put your finger on saturation. … We have times where we are completely booked solid,” said Greg Iserman. “I liked playing right away. I think there’s some tennis people that are anti-pickle but then there are some that do both. I think they’re totally different. In pickleball the points are quick with faster movement.”
A New Indoor Venture
Zach Feldman, 33, played tennis for years before turning to pickleball in 2023. A computer engineer from Pennsylvania with a degree from the University of California at Berkeley, he once tore a ligament playing but has since launched his business career with the sport.
He managed two Dill Dinkers locations near Philadelphia before moving to Madison. His new 28,000-square-foot facility, located in a former Amazon warehouse, offers better flooring, tall ceilings, and big TV screens.
“There’s a lot of space (in the market) for indoor pickleball, for sure,” said Zach Feldman. “The community is pretty large and pretty tight-knit.”
Why It Matters
Pickleball is not just a passing trend. It’s bringing communities together, inspiring new businesses, and changing how public parks are planned. Though Madison started slow, the city is now making efforts to catch up with its growing suburbs and meet rising demand for dedicated courts. With more public and private investments, the sport’s future in the region looks bright.
News in Brief: Dane County Pickleball Boom
Pickleball is booming across Dane County, Wisconsin. Madison, though slower to respond, is planning new courts to meet growing demand. Suburbs like Cottage Grove and Sun Prairie lead the way with better facilities. Indoor clubs and national chains like Dill Dinkers are also expanding to support the surge in popularity.
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