Lethbridge gets a Christmas present: southern Alta.’s first indoor pickleball courts [Video]

In an effort to increase access to the fastest-growing sport around, a new purpose-built indoor pickleball facility has opened in Lethbridge — the first-of-its-kind in southern Alberta.

Spread over 20,000 square feet, Pickle Point consists of eight permanent courts open to members and drop-ins year-round.

“Facilities like this, they have a waitlist in Calgary and Edmonton, but in Lethbridge we’re a little bit behind the curve but it’s definitely growing,” said Adriana Mercader, owner and founder of Pickle Point.

“It’s growing in youth and the average age is like 45-years-old in Lethbridge.”

With nearly 1.4 million people playing pickleball at least once a month in Canada, the rise in popularity in recent years sparked the need for a purpose-built facility in the city.

“This is a lovely opportunity to like develop my skills and be able to help other people increase their skill levels and even just introducing pickleball to them,” said …