Where To Find Pickleball In Gig Harbor
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Looking for a way to get more active, meet new people, or have fun in the new year? Thanks to pickleball, you can do all three! For anyone living in the Pacific Northwest, if you don’t already play pickleball yourself, you most likely know someone who does or have at least heard of the game. Maybe you’ve even wondered what the craze is all about. Whatever the case, today’s post is all about this sport for young and old alike, and how you can join the growing community of players in Gig Harbor and beyond. And come April, don’t forget to celebrate National Pickleball Month!
The History of Pickleball
So how did pickleball even get started? Well, add boredom to badminton and Bainbridge Island and you end up with the fastest growing sport in America. As the story goes, Congressman Joel Pritchard returned home from golf one Saturday in 1965 to find the rest of his family bored. With a badminton court already on the Pritchard’s property, Joel and his golfing buddy, Bill Bell, rounded up the kids and what badminton equipment they could, but without all the necessary pieces were forced to improvise with ping-pong paddles and a plastic ball with holes. After several days of playing around with their new game and then introducing it to friend Barney McCallum, the three men started crafting rules and experimenting with various balls and paddle designs. As pickleball’s creators kept honing their sport and teaching it to others, it continued to gain popularity, and hasn’t stopped since! It is enjoyed throughout the United States, Canada, and even the world by enthusiasts of all ages, remaining true to Pritchard’s original goal of fun for the whole family.
Did You Know...
Credit for the sport’s name goes to Pritchard’s wife, Joan, who was a loyal fan of her alma mater’s crew teams. In rowing, any non-starters, or “spares,” are organized into teams, called “pickle boats,” that race just for fun. (There is another story that the game was named after the Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, but it was later verified that the dog was not born until 1968, three years after the sport’s invention.)
Like tennis, the height of a pickleball net is 36 inches, compared to 60 inches for badminton.
A pickleball court is equal in size to a doubles badminton court, which is only about a third of the size of a tennis court.
The first composite paddle was made in 1984 by Boeing industrial engineer Arlen Paranto. His son, Steve, was a top pickleball player at the time and wasn’t fond of the heavy plywood paddles.
In 1976, Tukwila, Washington hosted the first known tournament in the world.
By 1990 the sport was being played in all 50 states.
The International Federation of Pickleball was established in 2010 and as of July 2022 had 63 member countries. There is also a World Pickleball Federation, established in 2018, with 37 member countries currently.
In 2021 and 2022, pickleball was designated as the United States’ fastest growing sport.
Pickleball was adopted as Washington’s official state sport in 2022.
Want To Learn More?
Check out Pickler’s guide for Everything You Need to Know About Pickleball.
USA Pickleball has an in-depth timeline of the game’s history.
Find some great articles and videos on the basics, playing tips, strategy, and more at Pickleball Portal, USA Pickleball, and Pickleball.com.
Read up on the six rule changes for 2023.
Not sure how to choose the best paddle and ball? Or make sure your current equipment is on the approved list.
For equipment and more, PickleballCentral is the place to go.
Where You Can Join the Fun
Local Leagues
Grit City Gherkins Pickleball Club (Tacoma)
PNW Pickleball (Tacoma/Puyallup)
Courts
Courts: 8 outdoor and 4 in their winter “tennis bubble”
Availability: 7 days/week (varies depending on the schedule for open play and other sessions)
Reservations: online, or call (253) 851-1845, ext. 7 for more information
Cost: club membership and tennis membership required, or $20 for guests of members
Courts: 1 outdoor tennis court lined for 4 pickleball courts
Equipment: bring your own, including a net
Availability: dawn to dusk
Reservations: first come, first served
Cost: free
Courts: 2 outdoor tennis courts lined for 2 pickleball courts
Equipment: bring your own (tennis net provided)
Availability: 8am - 9pm most days (varies depending on the day and time of year)
Reservations: online
Cost: $10/tennis court, $5/pickleball court
Rosedale Hall (adjacent to Rosedale Park)
Courts: 2 outdoor tennis courts without lining for pickleball
Equipment: bring your own (tennis net provided)
Availability: 8am - 9pm most days (varies depending on the day and time of year)
Reservations: email info@penmetparks.org
Cost: $10/tennis court, $5/pickleball court
Courts: 2 outdoor tennis courts lined for 8 pickleball courts, 1 outdoor basketball court lined for 4 pickleball courts
Equipment: bring your own, including a net
Availability: 8am - 9pm most days (varies depending on the day and time of year)
Reservations: online
Cost: $10/tennis court, $5/pickleball court
Courts: up to 5 indoor pickleball courts (varies depending on the schedule)
Equipment: bring your own, or rackets and balls are available to rent
Availability: check the online schedule for court sports
Reservations: first come, first served
Cost: free with YMCA membership, or the current day rate for non-members is $20 for adults, $10 for youth, $35 for a family
Van Zee Park (Port Orchard)
Courts: 2 lighted outdoor tennis courts lined for 4 pickleball courts
Equipment: bring your own, including a net
Availability: dawn - 10pm
Reservations: first come, first served
Cost: free
Tacoma
The Metro Parks Tacoma website provides a list of indoor and outdoor courts, clubs, and more.
Other
If you aren’t in the Gig Harbor area, you can search court locations at Places 2 Play and Pickleball Rush.
In Closing
If you’re still thinking about making some new year’s resolutions, have 2023 be the year you get out on the court and into the pickleball community. And when you do, please dink responsibly, and make sure you stay out of the kitchen!
While I do know a little about pickleball, my area of expertise is in buying and selling in Gig Harbor, WA and the surrounding area. Looking to relocate, upgrade, downsize, or find your dream home? As a neighborhood expert, I am here to help you in that process, so contact me today. Or to learn more about our wonderful community and the people in it, visit my blog, Paige’s Gig.a
