Pickleball is reportedly the fastest growing sport in the country.

All six of Greensboro Parks and Recreation’s dedicated outdoor pickleball courts at the Smith Active Adult Center will be closed beginning on Thursday, Jan. 26 for what is expected to be a week.

The Smith pickleball courts are being closed in order to repair the fence around the courts that was damaged by Hurricane Ian at the end of September.  The damaged portion of the fence was removed shortly after the hurricane and replaced with a temporary fence that has had to be replaced at least once.

The City of Greensboro sent out a press release on Tuesday, Jan. 24 announcing the closure and advising residents to go to www.greensboro-nc.gov/pickleball for “other pickleball opportunities.”

That city website lists Woodlea Park and Lake Daniel Park as open for pickleball play.  However, those courts are tennis courts with lines for pickleball, which is not the same as a dedicated pickleball court.  Several shots that are common among advanced players are not possible on a tennis court with lines for pickleball.

The indoor pickleball courts at Greensboro Sportsplex are also listed as being available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for a drop in fee of $2, or a 10-visit card for $10.  However, the Sportsplex “COVID Pickleball Guidelines” require 48-hour advanced registration of all players with names and phone numbers provided.

The 10 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts at Bur-Mil Park, which are in Greensboro but in a Guilford County Park, not a Greensboro Park, are not listed.

Indoor pickleball courts are also available at the Spears YMCA on Horse Pen Creek Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

At the Kathleen Price Bryan Family YMCA on Market Street, pickleball courts are available on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Unlike the Greensboro Sportsplex, the YMCAs do not require registration 48 hours in advance, however, you do have to be a member.

Greensboro is considering taking some little used tennis courts and turning them into dedicated pickleball courts, but that is still in the planning stages.

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