FCPA photo
Pickleball study underway in Fairfax County.
Ready for more pickleball?
If you haven't heard of the recreational sport with the funny-sounding name, you will soon. It's sweeping the country (not to mention being an activity you can enjoy while socially distancing yourself from other players) and getting attention in Fairfax County.
The county is conducting a study to consider adding more courts to the 30 or so already dotting county parks and rec centers. County officials will host a public meeting this spring before plans are firmed up.
What is Pickleball?
A mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong, Pickleball is a recreational sport that all skill levels and ages can play indoors or outdoors with a net, a ball and paddles. The sport was founded in the summer of 1965 in Bainbridge, Washington, where three dads created the game for their kids.
The rules of the game include:
- the ball must stay inbounds
- there should be one bounce per side
- serving must be done from the baseline
- the serve can't land in the no-volley zone
- the game ends at 11, 15 or 21 points
A pickleball court is 20' x 44’ for both singles and doubles. The net is hung at 36” at the ends and hangs 34” in the middle. A non-volley zone extends 7 feet back from the net on each side, commonly called “the kitchen.”
Where can you play?
According to the National Pickleball Association, there are about 4,000 places to play the sport around the country.
In Alexandria, you can play at a number of locations, including Charles Houston Recreation Center, Gum Springs Community Center and the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) study is looking at providing additional pickleball facilities within its parks, RECenters and community centers. In response to requests and the growing interest in the sport, the FCPA initiated the study to determine how to equitably address the desire for pickleball, identify sites for potential improvements to existing courts or new facilities and develop siting criteria and design guidance to be considered when selecting and constructing pickleball amenities.
You can currently find a pickleball court in the county by using this locator and adding the pickleball lined court filter: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/locator.
You can also play at an indoor climate-controlled facility called Pickerballerz that opened last year in Chantilly, where six courts are available for play. Clinics, leagues and kids programs are available.
If you would like to learn more about the Fairfax County study underway, keep an eye on the county's Pickleball Study page.
To learn more about the sport, visit the USA Pickleball website at usapickleball.org.
