NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — North Whitehall Township residents soon will have the opportunity to learn how to play one of the fastest-growing sports in the county.
North Whitehall recently converted one of the basketball courts at Laurys Firehouse Park into three new pickleball courts.
- Three new pickleball courts were recently installed at Laurys Firehouse Park in North Whitehall Township
- The township Recreation Department is offering pickleball lessons at the new courts
- The courts are open from dawn to dusk for the general public, except when lessons are happening
The township Recreation Department is offering pickleball lessons for children, seniors and beginners of all ages at the new courts.
Pickleball resembles badminton and tennis, but players use smaller courts, wooden paddles and perforated plastic balls.
The sport has grown dramatically in the past five years. Currently, 4.8 million people across all age ranges play the game, according to USA Pickleball, the sport's national governing body in the United States.
“It's been very well-received."North Whitehall Township Manager Randy Cope
Township Manager Randy Cope said the reception of the new pickleball courts has been “fantastic” so far.
“It's been very well-received,” Cope said.
The courts are open from dawn to dusk for the general public, except when lessons are happening.
Cope said that starting Monday, the parking area at the park will be closed for repairs for four or five days. Residents can use the parking area in front of the fire hall, he said.
Lesson details
The lessons will be on Mondays and Fridays and will run from late July through August.
The price for the classes ranges from $40 to $65, depending on the age and level, according to a Facebook post about the lessons.
The youth lessons all are on Friday afternoons. They are age-specific, with separate lessons for ages 6 to 8, 9 to 11 and over age 12.
Paddles will be provided for participants who don’t have them.
Paddles will not be provided in the beginner’s classes, which will be on Monday evenings. One of the beginner’s classes is full with a wait list, but the other is open.
There are two classes for ages 60 and up, but both are full. There is a wait list for both classes.
The township plans to add intermediate and advanced classes later, Recreation and Communication Coordinator Courtney Corona said.
