Quick...What's the fastest-growing sport in America?
Cornhole? Nope. Ultimate Frisbee? Fun, but nope again. Lawn Darts? Is that even a sport?
It's pickleball, by leaps and bounds. And the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department wants to make it easy for you to learn about the sport.
That's why RPRD is hosting a Introduction to Pickleball class on Sunday, May 5th.
According to www.dogonews.com, there are more than 36.5 million Americans who played pickleball at least once last year.
Pickleball is a hybrid of tennis and badminton with a dose of ping pong.
The class is free, but spots are limited. And you don't need any equipment. It will all be provided. The class will be led by Joseph Murray. To sign up for the class, call Murray at 256-436-8382.
Murray is Vice-President of the Shoals Pickleball Club, a non-profit organization founded last year to promote and introduce pickleball to the community.
Russellville Parks and Recreation Department Director Donnie Flanagan said he was attending a regional meeting of Parks and Recreation Directors recently in Muscle Shoals. He noticed the steady stream of people coming in and out and soon learned they were pickleball players.
“Their parking lot was full and I started asking some questions,” Flanagan said. “They have folks playing pickleball all day long. So we started looking into it and we've had a few people reach out to us saying they'd like to play in Russellville.”
Two pickleball courts have already been taped off on the basketball floor at the Russellville Recreation Center, Flanagan said. If the sport takes off in Russellville, he said they're looking at the tennis courts behind Russellville High School as a possible location for pickleball.
There are at least three locations in Florence with pickleball courts, including Veterans Park, Royal Avenue Tennis Complex and the Broadway Recreation Center.
“We'll see the response with the class. We're testing the waters. We've got two courts already taped off and we'll put up the nets the morning of the program, and balls and racquets will be provided,” Flanagan said.
“We're just trying to get some things started here for Russellville for adults, and really for everyone. We're constantly working to build and grow the Parks and Recreation Department,” he added.
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