Pickleball: Little Rock’s Hottest New Sport
If you haven’t yet heard of pickleball, you’re bound to sooner or later. It’s a sport that’s seen a big rise in popularity in the last few years, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. Never one to be left behind, Little Rock has jumped in on the fun.
The main draw of pickleball is how accessible it is. It’s slower-paced compared to other racquet sports, so players don’t have to be overly fit (or young, for that matter). It’s also easy to learn how to play and the pickleball community is renowned for its easy-going, fun-loving nature. Over 36.5 million Americans played pickleball between 2021 and 2022, and it seems this mash-up of tennis, ping pong, and badminton is here to stay.
Where To Play Pickleball in Little Rock
With pickleball popularity growing year by year, new courts are popping up all over. Check out the Pickleheads court locator to browse over 11,00 courts and find a pickleball court near you. In the meantime, here are some of our favorite places to play in the Little Rock area.
Popular Public Courts
The beautiful 46-acre Kanis Park added six dedicated outdoor pickleball courts in 2020. These are available to use for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. In 2021, Pinnacle Pickleball ran a fundraiser and raised $18,000 to install lights for nighttime play. The courts are fully fenced in and have access to a large parking lot right beside them. Mixed groups play every day of the week, weather permitting.
This park offers two permanent pickleball courts, open to the public. The lines are overlaid on a tennis court, so the net is a little taller than a normal pickleball net. The courts are free, and there is ample parking.
Popular Private Courts
Jim Dailey Fitness and Aquatic Center
This center offers its members access to two indoor pickleball courts, with temporary nets on a basketball court. There is access to restrooms and drinking water on site. Open play sessions are held on Mondays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. Non-members who want to try out pickleball can buy a day pass.
The Athletic Clubs
The Athletic Clubs is a high-end recreation and fitness hub whose members can enjoy a huge range of sporting amenities, wellness activities, and fitness facilities. Among their offerings are eight indoor pickleball courts and four outdoor courts. Here, you can attend regular pickleball clinics and classes and join various leagues and tournaments. There are paddles available to rent, and balls available for purchase. They even have a pickleball machine for hire so you can fine-tune your game on your own. Once you’re done on the courts, stop by the Blue Court Grill for food and refreshments.
One Play and You'll be Big on Little Rock!
Get out there and give it a go. With Little Rock offering so many great places to play pickleball, you have no excuse not to give it a try. And once you do, you’ll soon see what all the fuss is about. See you on the courts!
