New public space coming to Clovis in response to pickleball’s popularity surge
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Clovis plans first outdoor pickleball courts to meet rising community demand.
- The Well Community Church will fund and build six courts on its Nees Avenue campus.
- City programs offer limited indoor pickleball access amid facility shortage.
A community church is stepping up to build one of Clovis residents’ most sought-after amenities — new pickleball courts.
In recent years, pickleball has rapidly gained popularity due to its gentle learning curve and broad appeal to people of all ages from children to retirees. In the U.S., there were an estimated 19.8 million pickleball players in 2024, an increase of 45.8% compared to 2023, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
The sport has become a big draw in Clovis, as well, but the city currently is a pickleball desert of sorts. There are no outdoor pickleball courts in Clovis, according to city officials.
That will soon change.
The Well Community Church recently received approval from the city’s planning commission to build six full-size pickleball courts on its campus at 325 Nees Avenue.
“We just thought pickleball has such a buzz right now that we might make a pivot and build pickleball courts,” said Jeremy Vanderlinden, executive pastor of the church. “I don’t think there’s too much on the east side of town here in regards to pickleball, it’s a little bit more in Fresno and on the west side of town, so we thought we’d offer the community something a little bit closer.”
Vanderlinden said the church originally filed an application to build basketball courts, but changed its plans after learning of the community’s love for pickleball.
The 16,300-square foot pickleball courts, adjacent to four sand volleyball courts, will be located within the campus’ recreational area next to 3 acres of open turf space. The courts will also be equipped with perimeter gates and fences, bench seating, surrounding concrete pathways and site lighting, according to the project proposal.
The estimated cost will be $500,000, Vanderlinden said. The church has gathered enough positive feedback from folks who would be willing to financially support the facilities, he said.
“We want to offer that to the community, it’s not just going to be for people in our church, it’s going to be for the community as a whole,” Vanderlinden said.
Fresno State established a pickleball club in December 2023 and raised funds to compete in national tournaments through local pickleball events — the annual California Pickleball Classic hosted by the Sierra Sport and Racquet Club attracted more than 250 participants in 2024.
However, despite the community’s keen interest in pickleball, there is a lack of pickleball facilities in the area.Some Clovis residents have called on the city to build pickleball courts at recent public meetings.
In response, the city runs pickleball sessions in the Clovis Community Center during the summer, said city spokesperson Taylor Danielson. The large hall is converted into two indoor courts, which can accommodate up to 16 participants for a two-hour session. The registration fee is $5 per person.
A total of 55 players took part in the June sessions, Danielson said. In each session, staff matched participants of similar skill levels to compete for up to six 10-minute matches.
The July sessions are now available for sign-up on the city’s website, Danielson said. The city also provides one-hour pickleball classes for children between the ages of 8 and 12. The program includes teaching the basics of the game and skill-building drills, followed by instructor-guided free play for players to practice. The cost is $5 per student.
