How to play, and where to find Pickleball courts in St. Petersburg, Florida

On a gorgeous Thursday afternoon the courts of Crescent Lake Park are bustling with the harmonic sound of wooden paddles connecting with sunny pickleballs. Yes, in the “Champa Bay” region, the most popular sport isn’t hockey or baseball, it’s all about pickleball.

If you’re looking for a little dose of ASMR, just listen to one of these games on your next walk around Crescent Lake Park.

Pickleball sweeps the nation

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, with 26-40 round holes, over a net.

The sport was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle) by three dads — including Joel Pritchard, who became a U.S. congressman — “whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities.” This according to a report by Axios.

New park designs across the country are now implementing pickleball courts. The sport has surged in popularity throughout the pandemic and offered a safe way to enjoy a little fun outside the house.

In New England, on MA town is designing a massive indoor sports complex with a dedicated space for pickleball courts.

Where to play pickleball in St. Petersburg

The City of St. Petersburg currently has several indoor and outdoor courts. The locations are:

Coquina Key Sports Complex
3595 Locust Street Southeast 

Crescent Lake Park
1320 5th Street North

Booker Creek Park
2300 13th Avenue North

Roberts Recreation Center
1426 50th Avenue North

Campbell Park Recreation Center
601 14th Street South

Walter Fuller Recreation Center
7891 26th Avenue North

Lake Vista Recreation Center
1401 62nd Ave. South

J.W Cate Recreation Center
5801 22nd Ave. North

Gladden Park Recreation Center
3901 30th Ave. North

Fossil Park Sports Complex
6635 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. St. N. 

See a full lineup of courts for multiple sports on St. Pete Parks and Recreation’s website.

Click HERE for a full breakdown of Pickleball rules. Learn how to score, strategies and more on the USA Pickleball website.

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