April is Pickleball Month, and here's where you can get in the swing in Bucks County
April is National Pickleball Month, and what better way to get into the swing of the mini-paddle sports craze than by booking times at pickleball courts in Middletown Township and throughout Bucks County?
Middletown officials are publicizing the township's new pickleball courts, and is encouraging Bucks County residents to reserve court times now, ahead of the summer rush.
"Middletown Township is proud to be a part of this nationwide celebration, boasting 11 pickleball courts across two convenient locations: eight courts at Firefighters Park and three courts at the Middletown Senior Center," read a portion of a release from Middletown Township. "For those eager to jump into the action, signing up to play pickleball in Middletown Township has never been easier.
"Simply visit www.middletownbucks.org/pickleball to create your Middletown Township Pickleball Club account through Court Reserve."
Registration open at Lower Makefield Pickleball Courts
Middletown isn't the only municipality in Bucks County to embrace the pickleball phenomenon.
In February, pickleball club organizers created a new membership program for the Lower Makefield Township Pickleball Club, allowing players to reserve courts and times for this spring and summer.
Pickleball in Lower Makefield Township: Lower Makefield unveils new way to reserve pickleball courts
Pickleball players need to first fill out and submit the online 2024 LMT Pickleball Membership application.
The pickleball club has different per-person fees, depending on where you live and if you want a seasonal or annual membership.
Where else can I play pickleball in Bucks County?
Middletown opened the eight new lit courts at Firefighters' Park in 2023, in addition to the three courts it opened recently at Middletown Community Center on Trenton Road.
When combined with the 21 tennis courts located in Bucks County's Core Creek Park and Frosty Hollow Tennis Center, which are both also located in Middletown, the township just might be the pickleball court sports capital of the county.
Here are some other pickleball clubs and courts in Bucks County:
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Pickleball grows in popularity over past 60 years
The sport originated on a badminton court in Bainbridge Island, Washington. As the story goes, Joel Pritchard, a U.S. congressman from Washington state, and businessman Bill Bell returned to the Pritchard summer home near Seattle to find their families looking for an activity.
A new sport was born out of what they could find: ping pong paddles, a perforated plastic ball and a high net. Later in the weekend, the net was lowered to 36 inches. The idea behind the game, which was held true to today, is that the whole family could play it.
USA Pickleball credits Pritchard for originating pickleball in 1965, and for helping to build the first permanent pickleball court two years later.
That lead to the first-ever pickleball tournament in 1976, and efforts are currently underway to qualify pickleball as an Olympic sport.
And according to the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Topline Participation Report, pickleball now has 8.9 million players in the United States over the age of six, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022.
Damon C. Williams covers trending and regional developments for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Swing through these pickleball courts in Bucks County
