Increase in Pickleball Popularity Brings Additional Recreation Options, Economic Impact to Oregon – Sport Oregon Voices

The development of new pickleball facilities takes off as interest in recreational activity continues to rise

In recent years, the popularity of pickleball has exploded across the country, particularly here in the Pacific Northwest. But with the increased popularity of the once little-known recreational activity comes increasing demand for places to play the sport. In many cases, there are simply not enough courts available to accommodate all the people who want to play.

To help satisfy the growing need for more courts, dedicated facilities and repurposed courts seem to be cropping up all over Oregon. This is terrific news for fans of the sport, which carries broad appeal to people of all ages, abilities and socioeconomical backgrounds.

In the Eugene-Springfield area, for example, plans are in place to build the state’s largest pickleball facility. Groundbreaking is slated for May 2025 on the new 24-court Regional Pickleball Complex, which will be located on the campus of Lane Community College in Eugene. Current plans call for the complex to open in the fall of 2025.

The Eugene Pickleball Foundation is taking the lead on raising the necessary funds to build the state-of-the-art complex, which will be funded jointly by public and private funds. Travel Lane County, whose mission is to grow overnight visitors for a vibrant, year-round economy across the entire county, has invested $50,000 towards the project through its foundation as the first founding partner of the project, backing its firm belief that the new pickleball facility will draw thousands of players and spectators while generating millions of dollars for the local economy.

J.B. Carney, the senior director for sports with Travel Lane County, sees many benefits to the planned facility. In addition to meeting the increased demand for pickleball courts in the Eugene-Springfield area, he says the complex is expected to generate $1-$1.5 million annually in economic impact for the area in the immediate term after opening, and grow to generate more than $3 million annually once it’s more established.

“From an economic impact standpoint, alone, it’s going to be a great facility for our community,” Carney said. “It also provides great community benefits to all residents of the area.”

Plans call for 10 of the 24 courts to be covered, allowing for continuous play even when the Northwest weather plays havoc with traditional outdoor sports. Carney says that the complex is a great complement to the world-class facilities at the University of Oregon and has extra appeal in that it gives the area a popular new attraction during the shoulder season while also providing local residents a place to play pickleball.

The complex will host tournaments and is expected to attract larger regional and national tournaments that will have a sizeable impact on the area economy in the form of overnight stays, retail spending and meals at local restaurants. 

Those interested in contributing to the Eugene Pickleball Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the project can find out more information here.

Over in Troutdale, the largest indoor pickleball facility in the state is hoping to be ready to open this summer. Local investors are busy putting finishing touches on the East County Pickleball Courts that will include 12 indoor courts for community use.

Of course, there have been some great new pickleball options become available recently in the Portland area, including The People’s Courts, a 48,000 square-foot venue that opened last year and features a mix of several indoor and outdoor pickleball courts as well as bocce, cornhole, ping pong, disc golf and arcade games.

Jumbo’s Pickleball opened in Beaverton earlier this year and features nine indoor courts. RECS in Clackamas, which celebrated its two-year anniversary in March, also features nine indoor pickleball courts for year-round use.  

Additionally, there are numerous cases of city parks in the state that have either converted existing courts to pickleball or added new facilities to help satisfy demand for the sport.

In Central Oregon, Bend’s Pine Nursery Park now has 16 outdoor pickleball courts that are bustling with activity the entire year. There’s also great pickleball options in Corvallis and Albany. Columbia Park and Annex is a popular outdoor pickleball attraction in Portland.

In addition to all the public and private-business facilities, it’s not entirely rare to see backyard courts popping up in neighborhoods across the state, too.

This is all just a sampling of what Oregon cities – big and small – now have to offer pickleball enthusiasts, so it’s an exciting time for an increasingly popular form of recreation in a state that prides itself on staying active.