Hannah Baleme/MDN Minot Park Executive Director Elly DesLauriers, center, cuts the ribbon for the new pickleball courts at Roosevelt Park along with members of the Minot Chamber Area EDC, the Chamber Ambassador Committee and the Junior Golf Association.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America and it’s gaining traction in Minot.

The Professional Pickleball Association estimates around 36.5 million people played pickleball last year, making it one of the most popular sports in the country by participation, twice the size of tennis and just shy of activities like running and cycling.

Brandon Mackie, the co-founder of Pickleheads, an online destination for pickleball players, said Pickleball’s popularity exploded during the pandemic when Americans were looking for responsible ways to socialize and stay active. But that was only the beginning. Pickleball’s growth continued even as lockdowns ended and normal life resumed.

According to Pickleheads, there are currently 37 pickleball courts in North Dakota and five in Minot, making it the third most popular city in North Dakota to play, after Bismarck and Fargo.

Earlier this year, The Minot Park Board made the decision to renovate the tennis courts in Roosevelt Park due to the increased demand for pickleball courts. The grand opening of the courts took place Thursday, Sept. 21.

Juan Vadell, event coordinator for the Minot Park District, said the sport has exploded in popularity in Minot over the past five years.

“A lot of our North Dakotans are snowbirds. They like to go down south for the winter. Pickleball was already big in those communities and when they get back here in the summer, they want to continue their new hobbies and sports they picked up while down there,” said Vadell. “The want from the general public is the reason we were able to build more pickleball courts here.”

Minot Park District Executive Director Elly DesLauriers said, “Since the day we officially opened, the courts have been busy from sunrise to sunset.”

Independence Inc. put on a pickleball tournament in Minot this past weekend. Over 100 participants from all over North Dakota and Canada came to play.

“It was a successful tournament. We plan on having it here indefinitely,” said Vadell.

Local Minot pickleball organizer Nancy Beck said, “The YMCA has pickleball courts upon request. And last winter, the Cameron Indoor Tennis Club let the pickleball group play in the mornings. The group is hoping that it happens again.”

Beck said other places to play pickleball include Riverside Park, Green Valley Park and Leach Park, where tennis courts can be converted for pickleball.

Five places to play pickleball in Minot

— Minot YMCA (membership required, appointments upon request)

— Riverside Park (free courts)

— Leach Park (free courts)

— Cameron Indoor Tennis Center (membership required)

— Roosevelt Park (Free courts)