Study Highlights Massive Growth in Pickleball Courts in These Markets
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the demand for more public pickleball courts has created many challenges within communities.
Weekly, we share and read stories about new courts and multi-million dollar expansion plans. One public parks department in San Francisco is trying to curb demand by charging by the hour to reserve court time.
Yet, as much as we recognize the need, we also want to celebrate the growth.
In 2017, fewer than half of the largest cities in the US had dedicated pickleball courts. Today, almost every major city's parks and recreation department has embraced the trend, providing facilities to meet the growing demand.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has data to prove it.
Public pickleball court availability grows six-fold
According to the TPL – experts in park access and recreational trends – the number of outdoor public park pickleball courts in the 100 most populous US cities has soared from 420 (in 2017) to 3,182 (in 2024) – a whopping 650 percent increase.
In 2023, that number was 2,788 – a 14 percent increase from last year alone.
Has your city seen this astronomical increase in public pickleball courts?
Which cities have the most courts per capita?
Based on information from the TPL 2024 ParkScore Report, the top 10 cities with the most courts per 100,000 population include:
- Louisville, KY - 3.8
- Madison, WI - 2.3
- Honolulu, HI - 1.9
- St. Petersburg, FL - 1.8
- Port St. Lucie, FL - 1.6
- Bakersfield, CA - 1.6
- Boise, ID - 1.5
- Albuquerque, NM - 1.4
- Virginia Beach, VA - 1.2
- St. Louis, MO - 1.2
The image below shows the top 20 cities:
See the complete Tableau data set from 2023 here.
More courts mean healthier communities
According to TPL, these numbers aren't just impressive; they're great for the cities that embrace pickleball the most:
"The TPL's ParkScore 2024 report underscores how investments in parks, including those with pickleball facilities, contribute to creating vibrant communities. The rise of pickleball illustrates a broader desire for recreational activities that enhance health and community well-being in our cities."
Where do you think these numbers will grow the most for 2025?
