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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