OutdoorNebraska

Lincoln Pickleball Courts Pickleball is a paddle sport, similar to racquetball, which combines the elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. In recent years, pickleball has gotten a lot of attraction around the nation as a sport for all ages. In 2015, the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department caught onto this trend after being approached by older community members interested in having courts in south Lincoln near their homes. Since then, the nonprofit known as Pickleball Lincoln, Inc. has conducted two fundraising campaigns to build pickleball courts. Lincoln Parks and Recreation helped facilitate the process with the community by coordinating efforts with the Lincoln Parks Foundation. The campaigns were such a success that in 2016, three existing tennis courts were converted to six permanent pickleball courts, followed by construction of an additional four new courts that opened in 2020. With the city of Lincoln continuing to grow and expand, additional outdoor recreation space in developed or undeveloped areas can be difficult to achieve. The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department has gotten creative by using the pickleball court projects as a springboard for searching for other ways to incorporate this sport into existing park infrastructure. So far, six existing tennis courts have been identified as suitable multi-use courts for tennis and pickleball by adding double striped paint to the court surface, allowing for dual recreation use on the same court. Through this project, the City discovered that pickleball is a very social sport that requires multiple courts in a single location so the groups don't have to divide their social gatherings throughout the city at different parks. The older community was instrumental in communicating their needs with the City to ensure the demand for this recreation opportunity was met. They continue to be an active partner by maintaining the courts and supporting the City with future pickleball court developments. Pickleball Lincoln, Inc. has made it their mission to encourage others to participate in this sport by fostering the growth of a unique and inclusive community focused on fun, fitness, and friendship. This is a great example of how engaging with your community can build community champions that are vested in the resources you offer. 85 Pickleball courts in Lincoln. (Lancaster County) SUCCESS STORY G U I D I N G S U C C E S S

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