Pickle Ball is America’s fastest-growing sport. Pickleball lines were painted on Lake Felter and Kehlor Center courts, and as the sport continued to gain local popularity and players, the decision was made to build new courts at the ARC.
Mayor Tim Murry and Council Members Ebo Entsuah, Jim Purvis, and Michael Gonzalez joined City Manager Brian Bulthuis, City staff, and local enthusiasts to officially open the six new outdoor pickleball courts Tuesday, January 31.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by a pickleball demonstration and then the courts opened to the public.
“Pickleball is one of our most popular programs,” Clermont Parks and Recreation Director Brian Forman said. “We currently have four courts located at the Kehlor Center and Lake Felter Park and they stay packed.” Forman explained City staff repeatedly heard requests from residents for more courts, so $160,000 of recreation-designated impact fees was used to design and build the new courts at the Arts & Recreation Center, 3700 S. Highway 27.
Created by three, middle-aged fathers in 1965, the sport is rumored to have been named after a family dog. Its popularity started growing in 2015 and has not slowed. The National Pickleball Association estimates more than 32 million Americans play the game that combines rules and skills similar to those of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
For more information on pickleball and other Clermont recreational programs, call 352-394- 3500 or visit www.ClermontFl.gov and select the Parks and Recreation Department.
