St. Charles Park District opens new pickleball courts

ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Park District opened six new pickleball courts and a basketball court with six hoops on the west side of James O. Breen Community Park with a ribbon cutting celebration June 14.

According to a news release from the park district, the courts are located near Peck and Campton Hills roads, and the six new pickleball courts are fully marked, surrounded by windscreens and separated by fencing. A set of bleachers will be covered by a shade structure.

In addition, a walking path will lead to the courts from an adjacent parking lot, and toilets will be nearby, the release stated.

The playing area was constructed to serve as a “tournament-quality venue,” said Laura Rudow, superintendent of parks and planning, noting the courts are filling a need in St. Charles.

“We knew we needed more outdoor courts,” she stated in the release. “The [number of] residents looking for outdoor pickleball courts was abundant.”

Pickleball is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court, with a slightly modified tennis net. Players use a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and can play as doubles or singles, the release stated.

The new pickleball playing area in St. Charles used to be home to underused basketball courts, Rudow said, adding that improvements were also made to the remaining basketball area.

The St. Charles Park District offers pickleball at three other locations in St. Charles: BelgiumTown Park, the Pottawatomie Community Center and Haines Gymnasium.

For more details, or to learn about additional pickleball opportunities in St. Charles, visit www.stcparks.org or call 630-513-6200.