– The rising popularity of pickleball in St. Louis.
– Seven South St. Louis parks now have permanent pickleball courts.
– The converted Bed Bath & Beyond in Lake St. Louis now serves as a pickleball club.
St. Louis Embraces the Pickleball Phenomenon
Move over, baseball. The Gateway City, formerly known for its commitment to the All-American pastime, has another sport on its radar: pickleball. St. Louis is flocking to this paddle sport with an enthusiasm usually reserved for its beloved Cardinals.
Public Parks Lay Out Pickleball Welcome Mats
The sport’s impact is seen across town, where seven south St. Louis parks have been given a new lease of life. These parks are no longer the home of passive walks and BBQs, now they serve as battlegrounds for the fun and fast sport of pickleball. Permanent courts have been set up, attracting new visitors and reviving the community spirit.
From Bed Bath & Beyond to Pickleball Club
Meanwhile, in Lake St. Louis, a former Bed Bath & Beyond store has undergone a dramatic transformation. The expansive interior that once showcased household goods now accommodates eager pickleball enthusiasts, serving as a new epicenter of the sport. The adaptation of the store into a vibrant pickleball club exemplifies the community’s enthusiasm for the sport.
The Breezy Take
In summary, St. Louis seems to have caught the pickleball bug, and its symptoms are a lot of fun: reinvigorated public spaces and creative conversions of commercial property. It’s refreshing to witness the community unite around a playful sport like pickleball, bringing about a new sense of camaraderie and vitality to the city. Maybe it’s the unique blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong elements, or perhaps it’s just that pickleball is ridiculously fun to say, but St. Louis appears very much smitten. Move over baseball; there’s a new darling in town.
Original article: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2023-08-10/pickleball-americas-fastest-growing-sport-brings-hundreds-to-forest-park
Related Article: St. Louis Ranks As The Top Pickleball City.