LEVELUP PICKLEBALL CLUB
The outdoor craze has forced a massive architectural shift across the South Hills. We are no longer just painting lines on tennis courts.
Summer doesn’ t start with the solstice— it starts with the first day the temperature hits 65 degrees and the nets go up at South Park. By late June, the scene at the courts off of Buffalo Drive is electric. If you aren’ t there by 7:15 a. m., you’ re sitting on a shaded bench, paddle in the“ Next Up” rack, watching the dew evaporate from the asphalt.
Mt. Lebanon’ s Meadowcroft Park courts turned a quiet neighborhood spot into a buzzing arena. On a Saturday in July, the atmosphere feels like a high-end block party. Portable speakers play classic rock, coolers are packed with electrolytes, and the sound of the pop competes with the cicadas.
The courts at Upper St. Clair’ s Baker Park have become the unofficial meeting ground for the“ School’ s Out” crowd— college athletes home for the summer who bring an impressive level of speed and power to the kitchen( the game’ s non-volley zone).
As the sun sets over the hills of Scott Township or Bridgeville, and the lights flicker on for the final matches of the night, it’ s clear this isn’ t just a trend. The outdoor pickleball boom is the new heartbeat of a Pittsburgh summer.
Here is a list of just some of the outdoor courts in the South Hills.
BETHEL PARK
Millennium Park 5900 Baptist Rd., Bethel Park 10 courts Free( reservations available) 7 a. m. to 11 p. m.
Simmons Park 1200 Clifton Rd., Bethel Park 2 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
CANON-MAC
Canonsburg Town Park Parkland Dr., Canonsburg 3 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
CHARTIERS VALLEY
Collier Community Park 5 Pvt Lobaugh Dr., Oakdale 2 courts $ 5 drop ins for non-members( Free for facility and Silver Sneaker members) Mon.-Fri.: 8 to 11 a. m.
Webb Park 11 Walnut Ave., Carnegie 2 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
MT. LEBANON
Meadowcroft Park 2 Ralston Pl., Mt. Lebanon 6 courts Free 8 a. m. to 9:30 p. m.
Mt. Lebanon Racket Center 900 Cedar Blvd., Mt. Lebanon 6 courts $ 12 per hour / court Mon.-Sun. 8. a. m. to dusk
PETERS TOWNSHIP
Peters Township Tennis Center 610 East McMurray Rd., McMurray 4 courts Free Mon-Fri: 8 a. m. to 9 p. m.; Sat-Sun: 8 a. m. to 7 p. m.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP
Scott Township Park Pickleball Courts Park Dr. # 2, Carnegie 2 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
SOUTH PARK
South Park Pickleball Courts 1950 Buffalo Dr. 6 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
UPPER ST. CLAIR
Baker Park 1434 Morrow Rd., Upper St. Clair 2 courts Free Dusk to Dawn
LEVELUP PICKLEBALL CLUB
Limited Time Only! $ 99 Membership fee waived. To join, visit leveluppickleballclub. com
Open to the public 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. daily 33 Mayview Road, Canonsburg, 15317
The clearest evidence of the pickleball explosion is the recent opening of the LevelUp Pickleball Club in the Canonsburg / Cecil area. It isn’ t just a gym— it’ s a 16-court cathedral dedicated to the game. Boasting Category 1 broadcast-quality lighting and a specialized seven-layer cushioned surface— rare even on the professional circuit— it serves as the headquarters for a community that has grown from a few hundred enthusiasts to an estimated 10,000 players across the region.
The facility’ s amenities reflect the Pittsburgh lifestyle. Between competitive matches, players can retreat to an on-site bar and restaurant or a“ speakeasy” for a post-game drink. It’ s a third place that rivals the local pub or the country club, proving that in the south suburbs, pickleball is as much about the social“ dink” as it is about the overhead smash. There’ s even a golf simulator, ping-pong tables and a grand ballroom on the upper level that seats 200 for weddings, graduations, private parties or corporate events. n
UPPER ST. CLAIR | SUMMER 2026 29