Hitting off a new attraction: Dyersburg's new pickleplex

Sofia Roy - Reporter

Photos by Addi Lloyd and Gavin Ball

  This summer, the Dyersburg Recreation Center opened new pickleball courts near the new soccer fields. These courts allow people of all ages to get out of the kitchen (Pun intended) and play pickleball. 

   During the pandemic, Pickleball became a widely practiced sport. Because of this, the demand for courts increased exponentially. Players around Dyersburg resorted to using various tennis courts to play. Now, they do not have to! Dyersburg now has a dedicated court for playing pickleball with friends and family.    

   “Convenient availability of courts is limited,” retired teacher Charlotte Hasslett said. With the new courts, that is not a problem. Pickleball is a way for people of all ages to meet others, stay active and form lasting friendships. Now, with the building of these courts, Pickleball is growing in popularity all around Dyersburg. 

   “I’ve been playing pickleball on and off for about a year,” junior Kate Meadows said.

   According to 2025 Pickleball Statistics, Pickleball is the Fastest Growing Sport in the US, “An estimated 36.5 million Americans have played pickleball at least once.”    

   One of the reasons for pickleball’s rise in popularity is how much players have to move around. 

   “It helps me stay active,” Meadows said. Pickleball is an active sport, so it is a great way to get exercise throughout the year. With the new courts, players can play at any time of the day. 

   The new pickleball courts are a way for others to meet new people and get some exercise, without the fear of getting in the way of tennis players. Now that there are specific courts for pickleball, the tennis courts are open for tennis players to play without the fear of hitting pickleball players or getting hit themselves.