Coronado is going crazy over pickleball.
Since the pandemic, the sport’s popularity has grown tremendously, and for a good reason, according to Bill Huck, vice president and treasurer of the Pickleball Coronado Association.
Brenda Arnold, president of the Pickleball Coronado Association, says the sport has largely been accepted as more than a game for the community as it cultivates friendships.
Sport’s attraction
“We laugh, dance, play music, and have a ball together. And we build community. I think that’s one of the things that is so wonderful and the attraction of the sport,” Arnold said.
Arnold says you don’t need any prior experience to play, and that’s the second beauty of the sport.
“The sport is easy to learn. It doesn’t have a steep learning curve, perhaps like other sports. You can learn the rules and start playing in about 10 to 15 minutes and start having a good time,” said Arnold.
The sport is easy to learn. It doesn’t have a steep learning curve, perhaps like other sports. You can learn the rules and start playing in about 10 to 15 minutes and start having a good time.”
-Brenda Arnold, president of the Pickleball Coronado Association.
Pandemic fuels pickleball movement
The global pandemic had a significant effect on pickleball taking off.
“Pickleball was great to fill that void during the pandemic. Popularity grew tremendously during that time, and I think people were starved for social connections. That was one of the reasons why pickleball exploded over the past two years,” said Arnold.
The sport is a cross between ping pong, badminton, and tennis, and it was invented by three vacationers on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965, according to the website.
And there are at least 36.5 million players, with the largest age group of players between 18-34. Meanwhile, pickleball participation has grown by nearly 159% during the past three years, according to industry research.
Benefits and risks
While there are many benefits, playing pickleball comes with the risk of potential injuries.
Arnold acknowledges this but believes the health benefits outweigh any risk.
“Anytime you physically engage, you run the risk of injury. But the benefit of participating in the sport far outweighs any risk of injury. It’s important that you exercise and build connections with people; It helps your physical well-being and your mental health,” said Arnold.
Elevating the sport in Coronado
Arnold and Huck say they have worked hard to elevate the sport on the island by working with the city.
Arnold added the city has found a way to keep “sound pollution” down around the courts while converting two existing tennis courts in Cays Park to Coronado’s first eight dedicated pickleball courts.
“The green fences around pickleball courts have really helped muffle sound. It does really help with noise attenuation,” said Arnold.
There also are eight courts owned and managed by Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa, which are available to the public for $6 per player for a 2-hour session, according to the association.
Membership is booming – and free
Huck, Arnold and a few others founded Pickleball Coronado Association in 2022 and solicited memberships for free.
After several weeks, over 1,000 people had joined PCA, they said.
“We went to the city council and said there’s a great demand for pickleball which has not yet been satisfied. There are empty tennis courts, and we suggest you convert at least a couple of those to pickleball courts. The city council agreed and went through a process to get bids and resurface courts,” said Huck.
The project was completed last month, making access to the sports significantly easier.
“I’m happy to say that just last month, in June, we had an official city opening of the eight newly created public dedicated pickleball courts in Coronado, so that was a big deal,” said Arnold.
Want more info? Visit the Pickleball Coronado Association website.
