Park District Expanding Popular Pickleball Programs In Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — The Northbrook Park District began offering pickleball programming in 2018 and the popularity of the sport continues to rise across the country. With a higher demand locally, the park district announced it is expanding both indoor and outdoor pickleball programming.

According to officials, there are currently six dedicated outdoor pickleball courts at Stonegate Park. Two more are under construction at Oaklane Park. Another two are scheduled for construction at Williamsburg Square Park next year.

"It's been great to see such interest in this sport, and we have been committed to offering more and more opportunities for play," Athletics Manager Meri Shea said.

In addition, the number of pickleball programs is also growing. The latest addition is open pickleball on Thursday evenings at Greenbriar Gym. Indoor court rental at Leisure Center and Greenbriar Gym will be available soon, and four courts are available at Techny Prairie Activity Center.

The park district said pickleball programs fill within hours of registration opening, which led to the decision to expand. The array of options for pickleball players also includes:

• Youth and adult classes (outdoor and indoor, based on the season) for all levels
• Private and semi-private lessons
• Clinics that run about eight weeks, once a week, to learn and practice skills
• One-day boot camps, typically focused on drilling
• One day pop-up events, such as “learn to play,” free to the community
• Court rental at Stonegate Park and Techny Prairie Activity Center
• Open pickleball with 1 ½ hour slots at TPAC
• Seasonal leagues, running 11 or 12 weeks at TPAC
• One-day mixed doubles tournaments, typically one or two per season, at TPAC year-round and at Stonegate Park during the warmer months

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row, with 8.9 million players over age 6, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022.

Similarly, in Northbrook, 615 people attended clinics/bootcamps, 332 participated in leagues/tournaments, and 58 took private lessons through mid-October. According to the district, that’s an across-the-board increase from 2022, when 511 people attended clinics/bootcamps, 236 participated in league/tournaments, and 31 took private lessons.

"There is a tremendous desire to play in leagues," Shea said, "and we have done our best to accommodate that while also balancing the demand for other types of gym programs."

The Northbrook Park District offered its first pickleball classes in 2018 at Greenbriar Gym. The following year, the Stonegate Park courts were built. There are also seven indoor pickleball courts — four at Techny Prairie Activity Center, two at Greenbriar Gym and one at the Leisure Center’s gym — and four temporary outdoor courts at Meadowhill Park Skate Rink. Four of the eight tennis courts at Wood Oaks Green Park have pickleball.

Learn more about the Northbrook Park District pickleball programs here.