A fast-growing sport, Fall River opens new pickleball court

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Pickleball is one of the fast-growing sports in the U.S. presently. And now in Fall River, a new pickleball court has opened for the public to enjoy the sport.

The new pickleball and tennis court complex is located at Kennedy Park on Bradford Avenue.

Mayor Paul Coogan said that in 2021, Fall River received a grant for park improvements from the Baker-Polito administration, adding the decision to use that money for pickleball courts came from the increasing popularity of the sport.

Coogan said he’s working with the Park Board and a pickleball coordinator to plan pickleball clinics and tournaments.

“This will give residents a chance to learn about the game so that they can feel confident using the court,” he said. “This is part of an ongoing effort to improve facilities for recreation in our parks.”

According to USA Pickleball, the sport is now up to a total of 8.9 million players in the country — an increase from 4.8 million in the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association report.