BY ROO MOODY
Final takeaways
On the other hand
While private courts may be outpacing demand, some players say the supply of public courts still lags behind. Officials with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department said they are working to accommodate requests for more public courts as demand continues to rise. “There’s just huge demand for dedicated pickleball courts,” said Thomas Angelos, the deputy assistant director for Houston’s Parks and Recre- ation Department. “We’re trying to do the best we can with the facilities we have, and we’ve done some great work.” He said that the city has been refurbishing old tennis courts into two pickleball courts. There are now public courts at parks and recreation centers across Houston, including in neighborhoods like the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose. Looking ahead, Houston is anticipated to see several more private and public pickleball estab- lishments open in 2026 and 2027. For example, The Picklr already has eight locations planned.
As pickleball continues to grow, the game has also evolved to include a national league, which Houston joined in 2022 with the establishment of the Houston Hammers, founded by Hugh Zhang and Amy Blumrosen. The league is the first pro pickleball league in the country, made up of only players who are 50 years old and up. “The beauty of pickleball is that I can play with an 18-year-old, or I can play with a 70-year-old ... and still have a decent game,” Blumrosen said. “And typically, most pickleball is doubles. It can be gender or mixed, or it can be two men against two women, whereas in tennis, you’ve got to find either a partner or three other people who are around your same level.” As the game continues to evolve, Blumrosen said that she hopes to see it become more acces- sible for kids who may want to play at a pro level.
The Houston Hammers ranked fth in the National Pickleball League Season Three Championship.
“Most of these kids have full-time jobs or their own school, but I think if we can have the support of the community and even the support of the city and have more publicly available courts, that would be great,” she said.
First in the Texas Medical Center WITH THIS DISTINCTION
Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
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