Pittsburgh Loves Pickleball | Competitions and Where to Play
When it comes to playing pickleball, Pittsburgh is the real dill
No one is sure why it's called Pickleball, but with more than 30 million people in North American playing the sport, it's clear that it's worth investigating. And, the truth is, Pittsburghers seem to be obsessed with all things pickles.
Read on for more information about where to play pickleball whether you're just visiting and looking to stay active or a resident of Allegheny County looking to up their game.
Pickleball Courts in Pittsburgh | Where to Play Pickleball
Looking to find a place to play pickleball in Pittsburgh? Follow our guide to local pickleball courts! And don't worry, new players are showing up all the time, and the welcoming community is focused on growing the sport and making sure you fall in love with the sport for the same reasons they did.
* = public courts
Coming Soon
Pickleball Harbor, scheduled to open Spring 2024 in Murrysville, will be Pittsburgh's first indoor facility solely dedicated to pickleball on six fully climate-controlled courts.
Outdoor Pickleball Courts
- Aspinwall Recreational Area*
- Baker Park*
- Cranberry's UPMC Passavant Sportsplex (13+ dedicated pickleball courts)
- CitiParks (permit needed)
- Allegheny Commons Park-East
- Bud Hammer Park
- Fineview Park
- Frick Park (behind Blue Slide Playground)
- Schenley Park
- Franklin Park
- North Park*
- SouthSide Works* (equipment can be rented from nearby Pins Mechanical)
- Verona Riverbank Park*
Indoor Pickleball Courts
Competitive Pickleball
2023 Gamma Pickleball Classic
As one of the top pickleball tournaments in the country, the 2023 Gamma Pickleball Classic brings in competitors from far and wide. The event, scheduled for Aug. 18-20, 2023, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, welcomes players of all ages and skill levels to come and compete for $30,000 in prizes, as well as have fun exploring the city.
2023's event will also feature a special appearance by Tyson Apostol from Survivor and The Challenge! He will be at the event Aug. 19 for an open play court/meet and greet from noon-2 p.m. (open to the public).
Considered as a good form of therapy for those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the sport combines hand and eye coordination which in turn helps manage the disease's symptoms. As a result, this year's Gamma Pickleball Classic is benefitting Parkinson Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.
2023 National Senior Games
The National Senior Games took place City of Champions in July 2023, with pickleball being one of the most competitive events of the entire games. Singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions were crowned from a massive pool of 1,600 athletes during the event from July 8-16, 2023, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
What is Pickleball?
This Pittsburgh Post Gazette article on Pickleball explained it the best: "Pickleball takes the layout of a badminton court, then adds a slightly shortened tennis net and paddles similar to (but larger than) those used in pingpong. It's played with a wiffle ball, under modified tennis rules. No actual cucumbers are involved."
One cool thing about Pickleball is that it is a paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels. It has traditionally been a game played by retirees, but not so anymore! The rules are simple and easy to learn for beginners, but can quickly develop into a lightning fast, competitive game for experienced players.
Played either inside or outside on a court that combines both badminton and tennis elements, pickleball is played by either teams of doubles or single individuals. With the paddle, the players hit the whiffle ball in a similar fashion to tennis. As a sport that's easy to pick up but difficult to master, Pickleball is now growing in popularity in middle and high school physical education courses. All of this has led to an explosion of pickleball court construction across the United States, helping the more than 2.5 million pickleball players hone their skills.
Pittsburgh and pickles go hand in hand. Come see what Pickleball is all about or fine tune your skills at the Pickleball Classic August 18-20, 2023, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Feel free just to come and RELISH the competition, or take a swing at this fun and energetic sport – it's a big DILL!
