Six new lighted pickleball courts were dedicated this week at Bauer Drive Local Park in Aspen Hill by Montgomery Parks, which is part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The courts are available for play until 11 p.m.
Bauer Drive Local Park is located at 14625 Bauer Dr. in Aspen Hill. It is adjacent to the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center.
Pickleball is a fast-paced, low-impact sport that combines several classic games including badminton, tennis and table tennis. It is played with a tennis-like net and paddles slightly larger than ping pong, with a plastic whiffle ball.
“Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Montgomery County and nationally,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “With these new courts, we now have 40 pickleball courts in our park system, with plans for adding more in the coming years.”
In 2019, Montgomery Parks concluded a pickleball study that investigated service needs, gaps, user preference for facility location and design and service delivery strategies. The study was a multi-year collaborative process and gathered input from various sport court users to identify the best solutions for creating more opportunities for outdoor pickleball. As a result, 30 courts were completed in 2021 based on recommendations gathered by the study.
“The addition of the courts is a positive step in the right direction for the growth of pickleball in Montgomery County,” said Rob Campbell.
For more information about pickleball in Montgomery County, visit MontgomeryParks.org/pickleball.
