Jeremy Lorenzo holds a pickleball paddle and ball.
Luke Gronneberg| Sidney Daily News
Standing in front of Sidney’s new pickleball court at Custenborder Fields are, left to right, Bruce Goble, of Sidney, Jeremy Lorenzo, Gregg Mitchell, and Chas Randolph, both of Sidney.
Luke Gronneberg| Sidney Daily News
By Kimberly Pistone
For the Sidney Daily News
SIDNEY – Sidney Parks and Recreation is opening four pickleball courts at Custenborder Fields, which are due to be ready at the beginning of August. These courts will be available for open play – first come/first serve – unless there is a league already scheduled.
The number of people playing pickleball in the last two years has nearly doubled to nine million “picklers” (people who play pickleball). Pickleball appeals to an inter-generational audience, from young people to octogenarians.
Pickleball is a combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton, played on a badminton-sized court with a low net dividing the two halves. It is played with a small holey wiffle ball and paddles that are larger than ping pong paddles. Equipment is relatively inexpensive and easily portable. Games can be friendly or competitive, and can be played with two or four picklers.
Duane Gaier, Parks Director of the Sidney Parks and Recreation Department, said, “Our department is thrilled to bring this type of activity here to Sidney.”
Currently picklers have to play at the YMCA, or travel to another town to play. Gaier also said if four courts are not able to meet the need, they have space to add two more courts in the future.
The Shelby County Pickleball Association is a new non-profit group created in order to help organize the local pickleball community. Currently there are around 50 members in the group.
Jeremy Lorenzo, president of the Shelby County Pickleball Association, started playing pickleball five or six years ago. He enjoys both the fun and competitive aspects of the game. “It is a sport geared so that everyone can play, regardless of age or sex,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo said that the Shelby County Pickleball Association will be hosting free clinics and leagues. The summer league is already full, but there will be a fall league opening in September. Anyone interested in pickleball can join the Association for $25 for a year, and the league is free for club members.
Learn more about pickleball, how to play pickleball, or the Shelby County Pickleball Association by visiting www.shelbycountypickleball.com.
