New Pickleball Courts Installed at Umpqua Valley Tennis Center

Pickleball has a permanent home at the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center. The four indoor courts were finished on Tuesday afternoon. The center converted one tennis court into four pickleball courts. For about four years, the pickleball courts were put down with tape as needed. The sport is touted as the fastest growing in the USA by The Sports Fitness Industry Association in their 2019 report. When the tennis center started laying down tape for pickleball, office manager Monica Mead said they didn’t have many members who played. “We have more people coming in and playing,” Mead said. “We have enough people playing that it made sense to designate courts just for pickleball. It’s a game that anybody can play.” Pickleball requires less court coverage than Tennis and less physical impact than sports like basketball or soccer which makes the sport great for all ages. The courts are open for non-center members on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. for $7 with loaner paddles. There will be a soft opening on Thursday at 6 p.m. where volunteers will help teach the basics of the sport. Mead said there is also a staff member in the mornings who can help. There will be a beginner’s class starting on Oct. 18 every Tuesday and Thursday at 8 a.m. that rolls into the open play at 9 a.m. Board Member Keri Blue said this is a dream come true for the pickleball community in Douglas County. “I’m so excited to see the sport continue to expand as we enter this next phase of growth,” Blue said. “Come join us on the courts! We laugh, we exercise and we enjoy a beautiful community of people. It’s seriously the best!” *** Photos courtesy of Keri Blue.