Pickleball has taken the world by storm, becoming the fastest-growing sport in America. According to an exclusive report from Association of Pickleball Professionals given to CNBC, more than 36 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022. The sport is similar to tennis and ping-pong, with fairly simple rules, making it easy for anyone to learn. With the rise in pickleball, many people find it to be an enjoyable social outing that includes a workout, making it appealing to all ages. The sport has gained popularity with young adults and has even caught the attention of big-name athletes such as LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant and Patrick Mahomes. “When you look at participation rates alongside golf, and basketball and tennis…I don’t think anybody would have thought a year ago that pickleball would be right up there with those more traditional sports,” said Tom Webb, chief marketing officer of the Association of Pickleball Professionals.

With pickleball on the rise, many big cities has begun accommodating to the popularity, creating more pickleball courts for groups to play on. Lawn Love ranked 2023’s best cities to play pickleball, ranking New York City at #1. They looked at three main categories which included access to pickleball courts, the size of the pickleball community and local interest in the sport. New York City topped the charts by having the most pickleball facilities. They range from free-to-play courts, for public access, to reserved courts in Central Park that can cost around $80-$120 per hour. Other top ranking cities to play pickleball consist of, Austin, Texas, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Chicago, Illinois. With the sport continuing to rise in popularity, people can expect to see more big cities on the come-up wit pickleball courts and communities.