By William Hearn · Contributing Writer
Two pickleball courts were recently built on lower campus as a gift from the graduating class of 2024. However, according to a group of disgruntled students, they have been almost constantly packed full since the start of the semester.
To solve that problem, here are all the alternative pickleball courts within a five-minute drive of campus. These locations are the Grove City YMCA, Pine Grove Community Center and Center Church.
The closest option off campus is the Grove City YMCA. While they don’t have permanent pickleball courts, a temporary net is set up in the basketball gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays according to Loni Thomas, the front desk manager.
This temporary court is open from 12-4 p.m., and anyone can join in on the fun. However, if you are not a member of the YMCA, there is a $10 day pass and signed waiver that will need to be submitted at the front desk.
Next on the list are the courts at the Pine Grove Community Center. There are three nets in total, two of which are permanent, and one of which sits on an adjacent basketball court.
“These courts are often empty,” one player says. Since they have been freshly textured over the summer, this could be a great location for a soft or fast game.
The Pine Grove Community Center is easy to find, sitting half of a mile from downtown Grove City on Barkeyville Road. The courts are open during daylight hours.
Lastly, there are three courts at Center Church. These courts opened in August of 2024 and are a popular option for local pickleball players. According to the office manager at Center Church, the courts were built as a way to impact and be a blessing in the Grove City community.
Besides normal pickleball games, tournaments and fundraisers are common at these courts. The play is on a first-come-first-serve basis, but reservations are also available for $20/hour per court if you want to make sure a space is kept open for you.
Situated adjacent to Center Church, the courts are easy to find and only a five-minute drive down Center Street from campus.
