Pickleball Anyone? Grove Street Park Now Has Courts

Pickleball enthusiasts now have a place to play their beloved game: a former tennis court at the Grove Street park has been recreated and improved for pickleball games.

An existing basketball court also had work done, and a gravel parking lot with four spaces will be added shortly alongside the park, on town property.

"Everyone is excited about pickleball, and now they have a town-owned public park where they can play," said Karen Smith, chair of the town's Parks and Recreation Committee.

Thus far, the park includes two pickleball-delineated courts, alongside the basketball court, which was also recently improved. Players need to bring their own pickleball net and personal equipment, until the town can install a retractable net system, probably in the spring of 2023. Those nets live inside of a stationary sleeve on the side of the court and can be pulled out or retracted for games.

Pickleball courts are popping up at indoor and outdoor recreation sites everywhere, and pickleball is among the fastest-growing sports in the nation. It's easy to learn and the equipment is relatively inexpensive and portable for different kinds of play settings indoors and out.

The game is played on a space about the third the size of a tennis court, and portable nets are often provided by players who can set up on streets, basketball courts or other public spaces that may not have permanently installed game nets. 

Pickleball is also up and running indoors at Berkshire South Community Center.

Any questions about the new courts may be directed to Karen Smith, ksmith@townofgb.org.