Huntsville named as 2nd fastest-growing pickleball city in the country

This decade has seen many trends come and go, but one of the most fascinating developments has been the meteoric rise of pickleball into mainstream culture — and now, Huntsville is being recognized as a pickleball hotspot.

According to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), Huntsville ranks as the second fastest-growing pickleball city in the entire country, trailing Cleveland, Ohio by less than 1%.

They found that over a 12 month period, there was a 70.6% increase in new DUPR users (DUPR is a global rating system that allows players to track their skills and is used in league and professional tournament play).

“You can pick up a paddle for the first time and be part of a game within minutes. Then you discover how much there is to learn and you want to come back and get better. The game rewards power and positioning, but also patience and strategy. That gives people of different ages, abilities and playing styles a way in.”

_{Max Patin, Huntsville Pickleball Club President}

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Where to play pickleball around Huntsville

Pickleball started to gain popularity in the early 2020s because of its relative ease of learning, accessibility and opportunities for good, competitive fun — and if you’re just getting into the sport, Huntsville has tons of local spots to play.

Two of the city’s largest outdoor destinations are the John Hunt Park Recreation Center Pickleball Complex and the Sandra Moon Community Complex, which opened in June and September respectively.

“We always joke about how you can never build enough pickleball courts and I know everyone who plays pickleball agrees with that. It’s great to see the enthusiasm and for the City to be a part of such a fast-growing sport.”

_{Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville}

Since opening, the complex at John Hunt Park has seen an estimated 27,500 visits.

You’ll also find free courts at the Brahan Spring Recreational Center and the Mark Russell Recreation Center. Check out this pickleball guide we published in August for more local courts.

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