Pickleball, a sport which combines aspects of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, has seen a boom in popularity over the past few years. Though it was invented in 1965, the game iniAally caught on almost exclusively in the Pacific Northwest, but has recently become much more widespread; the Sports and Fitness Industry AssociaAon has reported that since 2021, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Pickleball is parAcularly popular with senior adults due to its low-impact nature and lower risk of injury compared to sports like tennis and racquetball. The Talbot County Department of Parks and RecreaAon has caught on to the sport’s surging popularity, building 8 new outdoor pickleball courts in 2023 and even more recently, 6 indoor courts. Both the outdoor and indoor courts are located at the Talbot County Community Center at 10028 Ocean Gateway. The outdoor courts are available first-come-first-serve at any Ame during the Community Center’s operaAng hours, while the indoor courts are available for rental at $20 per hour. Those interested can call 410-770-8050 for availability. The Community Center also hosts four open sessions per week, on Tuesdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm and 6:30pm-7:30pm, as well as on Thursdays 8:30am-9:30am and 9:30am-10:30am. The Community Center also offers pickleball clinics for both adults and youth: these clinics are open to all skill levels and are designed to build pickleball skills and increase confidence and enjoyment for all players. The youth clinics are a six-week summer program hosted in June and July each year, available to any 3rd through 8th graders for $60 per parAcipant. The adult clinics are held on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings for four weekly one-hour sessions, at a rate of $75 per parAcipant. RegistraAon is available on the department’s website at talbotparks.com. We spoke to a few pickleball players who frequent the open hours at the Community Center’s indoor courts to get a sense of why the sport has become so popular in recent years. One couple we talked with, Rob & Gale White, play at the indoor courts a couple Ames per week, and have found it helpful for staying acAve and social; Gale said, “We played tennis for years and made the switch to pickleball and never looked back-such a fun game-a great workout and social acAvity.” Gale parAcularly enjoys playing on the indoor courts because of the “great compeAAon, nice people and no weather issues.” Another couple, Tim & Carol Moore, who play together 2-3 Ames per week, said that the fun atmosphere at the indoor courts was what drew them to the sport. As Tim put it, “It’s fun to play! Pickleball is great because it accommodates any skill level and any age. It’s a friendly group of people that we look forward to seeing each week.” Tim & Carol said that pickleball has “absolutely” helped them stay acAve, and the lack of weather concerns at the indoor courts is an added benefit. For many senior adults, playing pickleball is not just a fad, but has become a lifestyle as well as a major contributor to staying in shape. ScienAfic studies in recent years have proven the benefits of playing the sport regularly: for example, a 2018 study in the Journal of PosiAve Psychology concluded that “playing pickleball as a form of serious leisure may add significant value to older adults’ daily lives and contribute to successful aging.” Among the many potenAal benefits are increased cardiovascular health, reduced cholesterol, lower risk of muscle and joint injury, and heightened cogniAve performance. In addiAon to pickleball, the Parks & Rec Department offers numerous other programs to get acAve and stay acAve. These include public pools and swimming lessons, ice skaAng and ice hockey, soccer, dance lessons, and much more. InformaAon on hours and locaAons for these programs can be found on the department’s website. Whether you’re interested in pickleball or any other acAvity, the Community Center is a fantasAc place for increasing your physical fitness while geeng more in touch with your community, and most importantly, having fun!