FACILITY OF THE MONTH
STADIUM-SIZED CITY OF
ST. GEORGE
FILLED TO CAPACITY
WITH PICKLEBALL ENTHUSIASM
BY ROB DAVIDSON
With a population that can fit into Notre Dame Stadium, the city of St. George in southern Utah has an amazing claim to fame: It hosts two of the largest pickleball tournaments in the nation and has more public pickleball courts than almost any other city. With about 80,000 people nestled in a valley flanked by spectacularly colored plateaus and hoodoos, and the beauty of nearby Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion national parks, there’ s arguably no better place on Earth to enjoy the sport.
St. George has more than 50 dedicated public pickleball courts, a number that’ s virtually unheard of in the U. S. The largest cluster of courts is at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex, which has 24 courts and is the host of multiple tournaments each year. Originally constructed with 12 pickleball courts, Little Valley’ s design is efficient, with the versatility to have adjustments made as needed. Power outlets are skillfully hidden near each court cluster, usually next to a bike rack. Light switches are operated on a timer and have reasonable hours of utility. A shaded area covers large swaths of the ample space between the clusters of courts, with benches on each side. Bleacher seating is available for several of the courts. With all the forward thinking in the design, it is no wonder that a project was approved to install an additional 12 courts, seamlessly into the existing 12 courts. The final product has rewarded both the citizens of St. George and the pickleball community as a whole.
This pickleball oasis has hosted some of the most popular tournaments including the Fall Brawl, the Huntsman Senior World Games, and the USAPA West Regional.
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