Parks & Rec Adding Two More Pickleball Courts News General, News Parks and Recreation Tampa pickleball players will soon have more court options with the retrofitting of an[...]

Tampa pickleball players will soon have more court options with the retrofitting of an existing basketball court on Davis Islands.

Last week, crews resurfaced and repainted it into a multi-purpose court that will cater to both basketball and pickleball - on a first-come, first-served basis. With pickleball growing in popularity, and the City of Tampa's 64 courts - 55 outdoor - becoming among the most used of all its facilities, the Parks and Recreation Department is getting creative to add more courts to its inventory.

In the coming months, similar resurfacing will occur at Duran Park and Plymouth Park. The City of Tampa then will have 59 outdoor courts and 9 indoor pickleball courts.

"Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, and Florida is recognized as the No. 1 state for pickleball," Parks and Recreation Manager Ted Fowler said. "Tampa is a big part of that, we have a lot of passionate players, and the Parks and Recreation Department wants to ensure they have the spaces they need to keep developing their skills, fostering relationships, and continuing to live active lifestyles."

Demand has increased so much that courts where players bring their own nets are becoming common. Approximately two-thirds of all courts nationally are multi-purpose, requiring nets to be set up for play.

Tampa's Parks and Recreation Department estimates that 750 to 1,000 pickleball players use city courts every day, with the courts at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park and Macfarlane Park being the most popular. Even during the day's hottest hours, a pickleball match is likely taking place, prompting the department to install a new shade structure recently at Julian B Lane.

View a list of all of Tampa's pickleball courts.