Petition seeks more pickleball courts

Pickleball is becoming an increasingly popular sport, yet Fairfax County isn’t meeting the demand for places to play.

Annandale resident Mike Perel, vice chair of the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging, encourages people to  sign a petition asking the Board of Supervisors and Park Authority to “find ways to support the growth and interest in pickleball.”

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It can be played on a tennis court with specific markings. Players use a solid paddle to hit a waffle ball over a net. It was invented in the mid-1960s as a children’s backyard game, became popular among seniors, and now draws players of all ages.

The petition calls for the county to repair underused tennis courts and convert them to dedicated pickleball courts and add dedicated or temporary courts inside RECenters, community centers, and senior centers.

More pickleball courts are needed, because there are long wait times for the limited number of usable courts, the petition states.

While all ages are enjoying the game, it is particularly popular among older adults, as it doesn’t require as much running as tennis and offers a great way to stay active and socialize, Perel says.

There are two tennis courts at Wakefield Park with line markings for pickleball but the surface has cracks and the net needs to be lower, he says. Some of the senior and community centers host indoor games, including the James Lee Senior Center (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-noon) and Providence Community Center (Mondays, 1-3 p.m.)

The Audrey Moore RECenter in Annandale and the Green Acres Senior Center in the City of Fairfax offer pickleball classes.

According to Perel, the Park Authority is undertaking a study to assess the demand for pickleball.