The new pickleball courts at Manhattan Beach Middle School will be opening up this Friday, and you don’t want to miss it! Playing on these temporary sites is free through December 31st. First come – first serve so grab your friends or family members with whom ever wants some fun time outside of schooltime gaming before they’re gone for good (you never know when those things happen). There’s about an hour wait time between each group playing but if no one has arrived by then there are plenty more Courts open until 5pm.
Pickleball, which combines aspects from tennis and racquetball to table-tennis but with added creativity as well! It’s an exciting game for all ages – it grew by nearly 40% last year alone according the New York Times. Mayor Steve Napolitano says “PickleBall is fun.” And when there are more courts available because they’ve been resurfaced in Manhattan Beach after being replaced due another opportunity arose where pickleball could be played instead? You know what happens: The demand exceeds supply so players have no problem finding a spot near their home or office.
So what is this game that’s taking the nation by storm? Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a court with the same dimensions as a badminton court. The game can be played as singles or doubles, and points are scored by either serving the ball into the opponent’s court or by making your opponents miss the ball. The game is fast-paced and requires quick reflexes, as well as strategic thinking.
The city is piloting a new open-play pickleball program this year. The four courts are available for free on weekends from 8am to dusk, and there’s one hour per group limit but you can reserve the courts ahead of time if needed!
The other location that offers playtime in these types of activities (without reserving) Is Manhattan Heights Park -1600 MB Drive Blvd in Manhattan Beach.
For more information and to reserve courts of pickleball courts opening, go to manhattanbeach.gov/tennis