S10 Episode 04: Why Players Love Pickleball – A Social Sport

Monday, July 15, 2019

Local pickleball player and organizer Jim Wehrli explains the social benefits of the game and how beginners can get involved.

This episode is part of Series 10: Pickleball in the Parks. For a list of ParkTalk episodes and series and to submit ideas and questions, visit https://www.napervilleparks.org/PODCASTS

Quotes from the episode:

"You have a Saturday afternoon pickle ball session for a couple of hours, and then fire up the grill and bring food. And that's what it's all about. It's really has the benefit of bringing people together."

"One of the other great benefits of a sport like this is that you can go anywhere in the country wherever you're traveling to on business or pleasure, and you can put your paddle in the bottom of your suit case--It doesn't take up any room. And all you have to do is go online and they will show you where people are getting together and being active in the sport. So you can play it pretty much anywhere you go."

- Jim Wehrli

Where to play pickleball at the Naperville Park District:

Dedicated outdoor pickleball courts with sports lighting: Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Road
Other outdoor pickleball courts (located on tennis courts that are also lined for pickleball) are available at DuPage River Sports Complex at 2807 S. Washington Street, Ranchview Park at 1727 Ranchview Drive, and Ashbury Park at 1740 Conan Doyle Road. Outdoor courts are free to Naperville residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

Indoor pickleball play is offered at open gyms at Fort Hill Activity Center. Visit www.napervilleparks.org/opengym for the current open gym schedule.

Learn more about the Chicago Metro Pickleball Open, held at Nike Sports Complex July 16-21, 2019:

. Podcast episode about the tournament: https://www.napervilleparks.org/podcast/s10-episode-01-chicago-pickleball-open

. For more information about Chicago Metro Pickleball, visit www.chicagometropickleball.org