Let's Play Pickleball!
Pickleball is a racket sport that draws its creation from multiple paddle sports like tennis, ping-pong, and badminton- but where did the sport come from and what’s with the fermented cucumber name? Most importantly, where can you play?
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ca6f981a35ace4f921e77096d34f72e2 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f04482aee0b4e44b08a4f374c3d8c140 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b4818748876db12c1eb8ee40f6675be8 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=788f8f9240f1dc60c9babde32e77fc9a 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=47134dbeb5b88d7e165438e9e8717a6b 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=778e0c5817d2a6e2841f807b07cad30f 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=cd2bb27cb12f241a251f50d8673dd6cc 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/pickleball-serve.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=b42025163f11ba386260e44321898b66 2000w)
What is Pickleball Anyway?
The game of pickleball was invented in 1965 by a family who found themselves bored; they had a badminton net but no shuttlecocks, a wiffle ball with no bat, and ping pong paddles but no table. How did they solve this dilemma? By inventing a game that required all that spare equipment made for 2-4 players.
Far from being named after the food, pickleball’s name comes from a type of boat called a “pickle boat” – the last fishing boat to come in with its catch at the end of a day or the last sailboat to finish a race. Pickleball was made from the leftovers of other sports – just like a leftover boat!
Pickleball is a medium-energy sport and courts can be indoors or outside. Outdoor courts provide more exercise as the ball is known to bounce higher and faster on harder surfaces but indoor courts cancel out the possibility of the light ball being disturbed by wind.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Pickle-Ball-Map-Labeled.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e765aa217a6dd2774fdca8fa73d9a070 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Pickle-Ball-Map-Labeled.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5395bbd771e1650150aa6fa235181b2c 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Pickle-Ball-Map-Labeled.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=7780767bbfbd275ed37ca40fec125522 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Pickle-Ball-Map-Labeled.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=6a6bf04c7308f802ca67bcd4b9ac720b 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Pickle-Ball-Map-Labeled.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5ba6f820e711144439d05b41b3df2c97 1035w)
Where Can You Play Pickleball?
Below are 14 pickleball courts in the southwest Illinois area- snag some friends to form a team and go play!
1. Gordon Moore Park, 4550 College Ave., Alton, IL has six outdoor courts. Play daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
2. Edwardsville YMCA, 1200 Esic Dr., Edwardsville, IL has five indoor courts. Play weekends from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
3. Township Park (Airplane Park), 6368 Center Grove Rd., Edwardsville, IL has five outdoor courts. Play weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
4. Plummer Family Park, 3501 Sports Park Dr., Edwardsville, IL has 12 outdoor courts. Play daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5. Miner Park Tennis Courts, 192 S. Main St., Glen Carbon, IL has six outdoor courts. Play daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
6. Tri-Township Park, 410 Wickliffe St., Troy, IL has four outdoor courts. Play Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed weekends.
7. Drost Park, 400 E. Division St., Maryville, IL has one outdoor court. Play daily from dawn to dusk.
8. Glidden Park, 398 Branch St., Collinsville, IL has three outdoor courts. Play daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
9. Central Park, 401 E. Water St., Hillsboro, IL has two outdoor courts. Play daily from dawn to dusk.
10. Fusion Fitness and Aquatic Center, 1210 E. Tremont St., Hillsboro, IL has two indoor courts. Play Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
11. Litchfield Community Center, 1100 S. State St., Litchfield, IL has two indoor courts. Play daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
12. Litchfield Tennis Courts, South Van Buren Street, Litchfield, IL has two outdoor courts. Play daily from dawn to dusk.
13. Wilson Park, 2900 Benton St., Granite City, IL has six outdoor courts. Play Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Saturday and Sunday.
14. Glazebrook Sports Complex, 1401 Stamper Ln., Godfrey, IL has eight outdoor courts. Play daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
About the Author
Kayla Howland
Related Content:
Plummer Family Park3501 Sports Park Rd
Edwardsville, Illinois 62025
Gordon F. Moore Community Park4550 College Ave., (Illinois Rt. 140)
Alton, Illinois 62002
Glazebrook Park Sports Complex1401 Stamper Ln
Godfrey, Illinois 62035