SMITHFIELD – It’s a combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. For the third year in a row, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States.
To keep up with the demand for pickleball courts, the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department will be converting and renovating two tennis courts to six permanent pickleball courts at Smithfield Community Park.
Parks & Recreation Director Gary Johnson said, “The initial suggestion came from the Parks and Rec Advisory Board and they unanimously voted on the recommendation. We have an abundance of tennis courts available for use and will continue to maintain two tennis courts at Community Park.”
“Pickleball is gaining popularity everyday and is the fastest growing sport in America. Participation has increased exponentially as Parks and Recreation has added the program to offer to our citizens. Play is popular throughout the county as well, including Clayton, Selma, and other areas.”
Johnson said there are no permanent pickleball courts in the County, however, Smithfield Parks and Recreation does offer indoor courts during specific times and days in the gym at the Recreation & Aquatics Center.
The Smithfield Town Council recently approved a $34,300 contract to convert the two tennis courts to pickleball courts. However the contractor can’t schedule the work this year. So it may be early 2024 before the courts are installed.
Once the new courts are in place, Mr. Johnson expects more local residents to try pickleball. “Once the outdoor courts are built, we expect a continued increase in both the number of players and the quality of play. These courts give us the opportunity to host programs, clinics, leagues and tournaments in the future.”
