Pickleball Club instrumental in opening of new CF courts

A celebration took place at Orchard Hill Park in Cedar Falls on Friday as Pickleball Club members and other community members gathered to recognize the addition of eight brand new pickleball courts.

The Cedar Falls Pickleball Club, founded in 2017, played a role in turning this long-awaited expansion into a reality. Three years ago, the club presented the idea to the city, and after receiving approval, the club members worked tirelessly to raise nearly $500,000 to fund the project. “The new courts were badly needed to keep up with the demand for the constantly growing sport,” said Cedar Falls Pickleball Club President Cliff Roy. “Initially, having more courts will make pickleball more accessible to all ages and skill levels, which is essential as the sport continues to expand in popularity.”

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, and it has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Local residents, young and old, have flocked to the courts to participate in this easy-to-learn and fast-paced game.

Maureen Henderson, who is a member of the Cedar Falls Pickleball Club, said, “There’s always someone playing on these courts when at peak times, and before these new courts  people were waiting to get on the court, so having eight courts here will allow more people to play at the same time.”

Ashton Jurries, a young player who has been enjoying pickleball since he was in third grade, also praised the court expansion. “It’s amazing to see how much this sport has grown,” he said. “When I can, I love to come down with my family to the courts to play—it’s great exercise for me.”

The new courts at Orchard Hill Park are available to the public outside of reserved times. The Cedar Falls Pickleball Club has reserved the courts weekday mornings from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for members, but at all other times, the courts are free for anyone to use.

“This is just the beginning,” Roy said. “I hope these courts will benefit both new and current players and help to expand the sport of pickleball across the Cedar Valley.”