Pickleball fever comes to Clay County with more courts expected this year

CLAY COUNTY, Fla — It’s the sport that’s taking the country by storm. People of all ages are getting into the pickleball craze, with the Sports and Fitness Industry Association saying pickleball participation doubled in 2022, and increased by 158.6% over the past three years.

“It’s a really fun game to play,” says Betsy Condon, the Chairman of the Clay County Board of County Commissioner. “I think people who are typically competitive, a little bit athletic, maybe used to be active but can’t be as active anymore, you can play pickleball and you don’t get as much of the stress on the joints that you would have playing Tennis and that kind of thing.”

Recently, Clay County opened up 14 new courts at Twin Lakes Park in Keystone Heights, and W.E Varnes Park in Orange Park. Before then, the only pickleball courts were found at Ronnie Van Zant Park in Lake Asbury. Six more courts are expected to open up later this year at Augusta Savage Park in Green Cove Springs.

You can find the rules here if you’re interested in playing pickleball.

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