From kids to 94-year-olds, everyone is playing pickleball in Tacoma
Pickleball is having a moment. Both nationally and here in the South Sound, the sport — which was invented in Washington — has exploded in popularity in recent years. At Parks Tacoma, (formerly known as Metro Parks), the staff is trying to keep pace with the growing appetite for the sport.
“It has been an amazing, uncontrollable growth,” said Ralph Thomas, recreation supervisor at Parks Tacoma. “Especially in the last two to four years at Parks Tacoma.”
To illustrate, Thomas said about 40 percent of the department’s available indoor gym time at their community centers is now dedicated to pickleball programming.
“We asked for five years, ‘How do we get our community centers more active?’ Thomas said. “We found the answer.”
It’s easy to see why the sport has taken off. It’s beginner friendly and easier than tennis to pick up. The courts are smaller than tennis courts and games are action packed. Still, while almost anyone can pick up the sport and be immediately serviceable, there’s a learning curve and an art form to mastering the sport and playing it at a high level, keeping players coming back for more.
It’s also one of the few sports that has multi-generational appeal. Everyone from senior citizens to young adults and kids are playing the sport. Thomas said a local woman recently celebrated her 94th birthday at a Parks Tacoma pickleball court.
“It’s a large range of people playing,” he said. “I think it’s gonna continue to grow. … We’re starting to see grandkids attending with their grandparents and playing, getting pickleball established as part of their life. I think when the pickleball craze goes through the younger generation, that will continue to grow.”
Terry Jungman, the districtwide capital improvement program manager at Parks Tacoma, calls it “low-hanging fruit” from a financial perspective. Meeting the growing demand hasn’t cost the department much money, as it has painted pickleball lines onto existing tennis courts and utilized indoor basketball courts for indoor pickleball.
For now, that’s been enough as the department weighs eventually adding dedicated pickleball courts in Tacoma down the line.
“It bridges the gap,” Jungman said. “The demand came about pretty quickly. We had to adapt and meet that demand.”
Jungman said pickleball still isn’t the most requested parks amenity — it landed about in the middle of the pack during a recent citywide survey. Natural walking surfaces and hiking trails topped the list. Still, there’s a demand and it is considered a “medium priority” by Parks Tacoma.
Dedicated pickleball courts are in the conversation for sports field/court development at the Peck Community Sports Park in the future. There’s a chance for two to four dedicated pickleball courts at the central Tacoma park, which is located off Sprague Avenue.
“The best practice moving forward is to develop dedicated facilities for pickleball,” Jungman said.
Parks Tacoma has a pickleball membership program, named the “Grit City Gherkins Pickleball Club.” It costs $7/month or $65/year and grants unlimited open play at any Tacoma community center. Currently, indoor pickleball is offered at the Center at Norpoint in northeast Tacoma, the People’s Center in Hilltop, Hope/Schatz Boys & Girls Club in South Tacoma next to the STAR Center, and the Eastside Community Center. Thomas said the program currently has just under 1,200 members.
“They have morning hours, afternoon hours, sometimes evening hours,” Thomas said. “They’re all well attended.”
And in the summer, the sport branches out to the outdoors. Parks Tacoma will start placing pickleball nets at outdoor courts later this month at the STAR Center, Point Defiance, Browns Point Playfield, Jefferson Park, Stewart Heights and Vassault Park.
Is it just a fad or is pickleball here to stay? The folks at Parks Tacoma are bullish on the long-term prospects of the sport.
“It’s multi-generational,” Jungman said. “It’s starting to come down to young kids. It’s something that spans a wide variety of ages. The popularity is something that will continue to climb, little by little. I think it’s something very likely here to stay.”
OTHER PICKLEBALL SPOTS IN TACOMA AND THE SOUTH SOUND
The Drop Pickleball Club (2360 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma) — For pickleball enthusiasts looking for pristine courts and quality competition, The Drop features seven indoor courts and one outdoor court. It offers drop-in options starting from $9 and annual memberships ranging from $650 to $1,275 per year.
Sprinker Recreation Center (521 Military Rd S, Tacoma) — The popular Parkland-area recreation center houses Gorin Tennis, which has tennis, pickleball and racquetball courts.
YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties (various locations) — Pickleball is offered at various YMCA locations. Monthly memberships begin at $48 and financial aid is offered for those who qualify.
Fircrest Park (555 Contra Costa Ave, Fircrest) — You’ll need to bring your own net to the outdoor courts at this location, but the courts are in great shape. Located next to the Tot Lot kids park.
Sehmel Homestead Park (10123 78th Ave NW, Gig Harbor) — You’ll also need to bring your own net here, but there’s plenty of space at this 98-acre park, which has pickleball lines on both the basketball and tennis courts.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "From kids to 94-year-olds, everyone is playing pickleball in Tacoma."
