Health & Wellness Edition: Pickleball's rapid rise reshapes Houston's recreation scene

“When you’re little ... you’re just so pure and unadulterated, and you see something new, it’s like the greatest thing in the world,” Kaplan said. “This is what [pickleball] does to people because it’s fun, it’s social, it can be competitive and it’s inclusive.”

The number of pickleball leagues, tournaments and players has risen over the past few decades, according to the USA Pickleball. Still, it wasn’t until the pandemic that the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, one of the leading trade associations for the industry, named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America.

Pickleball has seen a 223% increase in participation from 2020 to 2024, according to recent data from the association. In 2025 and 2026, experts project annual growth rates between 15–20% as the sport continues to expand.

Business owner and pickleball player Jason Mok said he noticed the game’s rapid rise to popularity and decided to act on it. In March 2024, he opened PKL Social on Washington Avenue, which boasts several pickleball courts and open play options.

“Just like everyone, we kind of felt there was an opportunity back in 2022, 2023,” Mok said. “We

were already in the food and beverage industry, and we just kind of leaned really hard into the little sports bar, social and then pickleball [industry].”

In 2025, several pickleball courts opened across the area, including private clubs, public courts and those with a combination of dining and recreation. For example, Drop Shots HTX opened in June with a full bar, indoor courts and an arcade. Other businesses that have opened in 2025 include Pickle Mania and Rallies Pickleball Club.

However, Kaplan said that the rise of the sport has led to issues where growth is outpacing demand.

“In 2023, there were 20 indoor courts in two privately owned facilities,” he said. “Jump to December 2025, and Houston has more pickleball facilities than any city in the nation.”

Mok echoed Kaplan’s statement, saying that while he doesn’t think the sport is going anywhere, private pickleball establishments without other offerings may struggle to stay open.

“The sport itself has plenty of trajectory to go, but the clubs that haven’t built nice, consistent programming and community are the ones that probably aren’t doing as well,” he said.

Mok said that’s why it was important to him to offer more than just the game. PKL Social has several outdoor patios for gatherings, large TVs for watching sporting events, golf simulators and an extensive food and beverage menu.

On the other hand

While private courts may be outpacing demand, some players say the supply of public courts still lags behind. Officials with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department said they are working to accommodate requests for more public courts as demand continues to rise.

“There’s just huge demand for dedicated pickleball courts,” said Thomas Angelos, the deputy assistant director for Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department. “We’re trying to do the best we can with the facilities we have, and we’ve done some great work.”

He said that the city has been refurbishing old tennis courts into two pickleball courts. There are now public courts at parks and recreation centers across Houston, including in neighborhoods like the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose.

Looking ahead, Houston is anticipated to see several more private and public pickleball establishments open in 2026 and 2027. For example, The Picklr already has eight locations planned.

Final takeaways

As pickleball continues to grow, the game has also evolved to include a national league, which Houston joined in 2022 with the establishment of the Houston Hammers, founded by Hugh Zhang and Amy Blumrosen.

“The beauty of pickleball is that I can play with an 18-year-old, or I can play with a 70-year-old ... and still have a decent game,” Blumrosen said. “And typically, most pickleball is doubles. It can be gender or mixed, or it can be two men against two women, whereas in tennis, you’ve got to find either a partner or three other people who are around your same level.”

As the game continues to evolve, Blumrosen said that she hopes to see it become more accessible for kids who may want to play at a pro level.

The Houston Hammers ranked 5th in the National Pickleball League Season Three Championship.

“Most of these kids have full-time jobs or their own school, but I think if we can have the support of the community and even the support of the city and have more publicly available courts, that would be great,” she said.