Local news- Press Release
Frederick County Economic Development Authority Virginia - New Pickleball Courts Open 12 February 2024 ( news )
Frederick County Economic Development Authority , state Virginia ( By Press Release office)
Feb 12,2024
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WINCHESTER
— Sports enthusiasts continue to flock to the game of pickleball , which for the past three years has been deemed the fastest - growing participant sport in America by the
Sports and Fitness Industry Association
.
A lot of those enthusiasts will now be flocking to Winchester thanks to the opening of six new pickleball courts in Jim Barnett Park .
On Wednesday evening , more than a hundred pickleball aficionados were on hand for a ribbon - cutting ceremony to officially open the courts to the public .
“The day has finally arrived , ” Winchester Parks and Recreation Director Chris Konyar told the crowd . “This is a great day for the city of Winchester , our Parks and Rec Department [and] our pickleball community . ”
Konyar said conceiving and executing the plan to build the courts was “an absolute pleasure since day one” because of the seamless way his department , city government and local pickleball players worked together to make the facility a reality .
“It was loud and clear to us on the park board that this community was really passionate to see this project come to fruition , ” Winchester Parks and Recreation Advisory Board President Dan Bureau said on Wednesday . “This was an awesome collaboration . ”
“Thank you for showing up and making your voices heard , ” added City Manager Dan Hoffman , addressing the dozens of pickleball players in attendance who advocated for the courts and turned out for Wednesday’s ceremony .
One of the biggest proponents for the new courts was Allen Knotts , who Konyar described as “the champion of local pickleball . ”
“This is very exciting to me , ” Knotts said on Wednesday , recalling how it took nine months to take the courts from proposal to completion . “I love pickleball . I eat , sleep and drink pickleball . I’d play eight days a week if my body would let me . ”
The six new pickleball courts are in a fenced enclosure next to the Christianson Familyland playground , near the south end of Jim Barnett Park . The site formerly accommodated a miniature golf course that waned in popularity before being removed a few years ago .
“This is a fantastic addition to what is already an amazing park , ” Hoffman said about the new pickleball courts shortly before receiving a celebratory first serve from Knotts .
In case you’re unfamiliar with pickleball , it is similar to tennis . Two or four players compete in singles or doubles games on a small indoor or outdoor court , using solid - faced paddles to volley a hollow plastic ball across a 3 - foot - tall net . It was invented in 1965 in Washington state as a backyard game for children but became a national phenomenon in recent years .
Pickleball’s popularity may be new , but it doesn’t appear to be a flash in the pan . The national
Association of Pickleball Professionals
released data in January that showed 36 . 5 million people in the United States who are 18 or older — that’s 14% of the country’s entire adult population — had played pickleball at least once within the past 12 months .
Hoffman wants to ensure that pickleball won’t be just another fad in Winchester . At Wednesday evening’s ribbon cutting , he asked the dozens of pickleball players in attendance to show naysayers the sport is here to stay .
“We want you all to make use of it , we want you all to appreciate it , but it doesn’t end there , ” Hoffman said . “Stay involved . Stay active . Continue to advocate for the park . . . so facilities like this and others continue to happen in Jim Barnett Park and all throughout the city . ”
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