Pickleball Gets An Outdoor Addition In The River City
By: Donnie Tillman
Updated: May 11, 2012
Peoria, IL -- The sport of Pickleball is growing in popularity throughout Central Illinois.
But for this group of players they're starting to outgrow the amount of room.
So, the Peoria Park District decided to turn these tennis courts at glen oak park into Pickleball courts.
"Started pushing and asking, pushing and asking, and some of the players started talking to people at the park district too. We were given these courts, so we could convert them to Pickleball courts. Our dream is alive today. So we're pretty happy about it."
"It's really special for us, so grateful that the park district did this. They took over unused tennis courts, so there wasn't any sacrifice on the park district, and they convert them to four Pickleball courts."
A Pickleball court is nearly half the size of a tennis court, so after putting the lines down and cleaning up the place a bit, it is now ready for daily use for more competitors.
"One difference is we can have four courts. Its hard to have a gymnasium that is big enough to have four courts."
Fred Fry has been playing for nearly six years now and he says he can't get enough.
"It's my favorite game, great game for people are age, great exercise, great game!"
Not only is he doing something that he loves, but it's also keeping fry in shape.
"It's a great sport, because you can get excellent exercise without as you say the toll on your body."
It may not look like much outside the lines, but competitors welcome you to step inside the yellow and pick up on the fun that is growing on many people's list of outdoor activities.
But for this group of players they're starting to outgrow the amount of room.
So, the Peoria Park District decided to turn these tennis courts at glen oak park into Pickleball courts.
"Started pushing and asking, pushing and asking, and some of the players started talking to people at the park district too. We were given these courts, so we could convert them to Pickleball courts. Our dream is alive today. So we're pretty happy about it."
"It's really special for us, so grateful that the park district did this. They took over unused tennis courts, so there wasn't any sacrifice on the park district, and they convert them to four Pickleball courts."
A Pickleball court is nearly half the size of a tennis court, so after putting the lines down and cleaning up the place a bit, it is now ready for daily use for more competitors.
"One difference is we can have four courts. Its hard to have a gymnasium that is big enough to have four courts."
Fred Fry has been playing for nearly six years now and he says he can't get enough.
"It's my favorite game, great game for people are age, great exercise, great game!"
Not only is he doing something that he loves, but it's also keeping fry in shape.
"It's a great sport, because you can get excellent exercise without as you say the toll on your body."
It may not look like much outside the lines, but competitors welcome you to step inside the yellow and pick up on the fun that is growing on many people's list of outdoor activities.
