Madison School and Community Recreation’s Pickleball Classes: Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is seeing a rise in interest in its winter pickleball programs, with spots quickly filling up and long wait lists forming. Operations manager Laura Whitmore shared that pickleball, along with pottery and aquatics, is one of the most in-demand activities for the upcoming season.
Growing Popularity of Pickleball
Pickleball, especially for intermediate players, is a major draw at MSCR this winter. According to Whitmore, while the department offers a variety of classes for all ages and skill levels, pickleball stands out.
“We have very high-quality offerings all year round, and people recognize that. I think that is actually the thing that’s driving a lot of the demand that we have for programming.” – (Whitmore)
The popularity of pickleball, combined with limited space and staffing resources, has made it difficult for everyone interested to secure a spot. Some classes are filled within hours of enrollment opening, generating wait lists in the “double digits.”
Space Constraints and Staffing Issues
While MSCR has grown in recent years, expanding its programming into more spaces, finding enough room for pickleball classes remains a challenge. Whitmore mentioned that the organization typically hosts programs at three key locations throughout the city—east, west, and central—alongside youth recreation programs held at schools. Scheduling conflicts with school activities, such as clubs and athletics, further complicate fitting in pickleball sessions.
“Factoring in space, we’re always in negotiations. We’re always in conversations with our colleagues around what sort of space will be available.” – (Whitmore)
Pickleball Wait Lists and Solutions
For those hoping to get into MSCR’s pickleball classes, there is still hope. Whitmore explained that wait lists are often fluid, with people dropping out after initially signing up, opening up spots for others.
“People on wait lists shouldn’t give up hope, though. It’s typical for people to sign up for classes and later drop them, opening room for others on wait lists to join.” – (Whitmore)
While it may be difficult to secure a spot immediately, those interested in pickleball should keep an eye on openings, as spaces may become available closer to the start of classes.
Expanding Programming for the Future
MSCR is also looking ahead to further growth. The department is working with Madison school district leaders on new buildings funded by a recently passed $507 million referendum. These upgrades could help provide additional space for pickleball and other programs.
“We’re collaborating with them as they’re planning out the buildings, particularly the gym spaces. But we’re really proud of all of the offerings that we do have, and we’re happy that they are in such great demand.” – (Whitmore)
News in Brief: Madison School and Community Recreation’s Pickleball Classes
Winter pickleball classes at Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) are in high demand, with many filling quickly and generating long wait lists. MSCR operations manager Laura Whitmore emphasized that the department’s high-quality offerings, particularly in intermediate pickleball, are driving this surge in popularity.
Despite challenges in finding space and hiring enough staff, MSCR remains hopeful that openings will arise due to class dropouts. Future facility upgrades funded by a $507 million referendum could help meet the growing demand for pickleball and other community programs.
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