Saturday's celebration will highlight the impact of eight new dedicated courts, located adjacent to the park's tennis courts. The location also features a shelter and bench between the two sides.
While pickleball was first invented in 1965, in more recent years it has gained popularity.
"The new courts are a symbol of what the Park District does every day... we are focused on finding creative solutions that meet the needs of our community while being responsible stewards of District resources," stated Peoria Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill. "While answering the call to serve the growing pickleball community, we were able to reimagine and repurpose old rubico courts, while also adding more green space to the dense landscape of Glen Oak Park," Cahill continued.
In addition to the new courts in Glen Oak Park, the District also has outdoor courts at Charter Oak Park and seasonally hosts indoor play at Lakeview Recreation Center and Owens Ice Center.
Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. It is played on an indoor or outdoor court that is approximately half the size of a tennis court. Equipment consists of a wooden paddle (like a ping pong paddle but with a larger head), a polymer wiffleball (moves at one-third the speed of a tennis ball), and a net that sits four inches lower than a tennis net. The smaller area combined with the slower moving ball makes pickleball arguably easier to play (with less impact on joints) than tennis.
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