Pickleball Gains Ground in Keene as City Expands Court Access

KEENE, NH — As the popularity of pickleball continues to skyrocket across the country, the City of Keene is expanding opportunities for residents to get in on the action, with new playing spaces, court upgrades, and more locations set to open in the coming weeks.

Often described as a mix between tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, pickleball is played on a smaller court with paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The sport has surged in popularity in recent years, attracting players of all ages for its social, accessible, and fast-paced gameplay.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with participation doubling in just the last couple of years.

Keene is keeping pace with this growing trend, offering close to 60 locations where residents and visitors can enjoy the game. Most courts are shared-use spaces with markings for pickleball—players can easily locate them through the Parks and Recreation web page by selecting “Court” in the sidebar and looking for areas labeled “Pickleball.”

As part of Keene’s ongoing court resurfacing project, the city has announced that two local tennis courts—at Wheelock Park and Knight Street’s Ellis Harrison Park—will soon feature pickleball lines. These will be available as BYON (Bring Your Own Net) courts, once spring weather allows for outdoor play. While a specific resurfacing date has not yet been finalized, city officials say they hope the additions will be ready soon.

Meanwhile, the Jonathan Daniels Courts, which recently underwent fencing upgrades in coordination with the Keene School District, are expected to open by early next week.

Night owls aren’t left out either: for those who prefer to play after dark, the outdoor basketball courts on Water Street double as lighted pickleball courts, offering another BYON option for evening games.

With more improvements on the way, Keene’s recreation team encourages residents to stay tuned for updates—and to get out and experience the fun for themselves.

For more information on where to play pickleball in Keene, visit the city’s official recreation page (click here)