Washington, DC is a great place to play pickleball because all Department of Parks and Recreation run centers are free for DC residents! Pickleball courts can be found at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, Palisades Recreation Center, and more. If you're looking for a more sociable experience, check out an organization called Washington DC Pickleball. They run tournaments and clinics and have a great community of players in the region.
Pickleball in Washington, DC
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. An exciting, fast-paced, sociable, and addictive combination of badminton, ping pong, and tennis, it’s catching on like wildfire across the United States.
For DC residents, pickleball is easy to get into because the DC Department of Parks and Recreation offers free pickleball courts in all of its recreation centers. It’s not just in public that pickleball is on the rise. Demand for private pickleball courts is massively on the rise in DC.
Whether you’re a seasoned pickleball player new to the region or a beginner looking to get into the game, DC has options for you.
Pickleball Courts in Washington, DC
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Based at 1100 Michigan Ave., NE, the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center has four dedicated outdoor courts and twelve dual-purpose tennis courts. One thing to be aware of: the dual-purpose courts require you to bring your own nets. This venue is run by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Palisades Recreation Center
The Palisades Recreation Center can be found at 5200 Sherier Place NW. Another pickleball venue run by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Palisades Recreation Center offers both indoor and outdoor pickleball courts.
Edgewood Recreation Center
The Edgewood Recreation Center has outdoor courts and indoor courts for pickleball players, as well as a rooftop garden and children’s spray park. This means you can have a match while your children splash and play and relax at the garden after.
Takoma Recreation Center
The Takoma Recreation Center (300 Van Buren St NW) is a good spot if you’re looking for somewhere a little bit quieter. Pickleball’s boom is great for players, but the downside of being the fastest-growing sport in America is that courts can get busy! Not so at the Takoma Recreation Center, a hidden gem that offers two quiet outdoor courts where you should almost always be able to get a game.
Pickleball Clubs & Organizations in Washington, DC
Washington DC Pickleball
Washington DC Pickleball is a group set up by local pickleball enthusiasts to help continue the growth of the game. They offer lessons and information about when and where to play pickleball in Washington, DC. There’s a small fee for membership, but all locations have free drop-in play, and the community you will develop is definitely worth the cost.
DC Pickleball Club
Another membership-based organization keen to grow the game of pickleball, the DC Pickleball Club encourages new players and experienced pickleballers alike to pick up their paddles and get playing.
Pickleball Tournaments in Washington, DC
PPA n2grate DC Open
Played at College Park, the PPA n2grate DC Open is a combined professional and amateur pickleball tournament. Taking place over four days each fall, it offers mixed doubles, men’s and women’s singles, women’s doubles, and men’s doubles.
Pickleball Lessons
The best place to look for local pickleball lessons is Washington DC Pickleball (WDCP). They offer two beginner courses for their members: Introduction to Pickleball (for brand new players) and Intermediate Beginners (for those with a skill level of below 2.5).
WDCP facilities an ‘ad-hoc’ group for members of their beginner courses, allowing players to get together and practice their skills. They also offer clinics on weekday mornings (and sometimes on weekends). The Advanced Beginners clinics are for skill levels 2.5 and 3.0, while more advanced players can jump into the Low Intermediates (3.5) or High Intermediates (4.0).
If you’re looking for private lessons, WDCP also can facilitate this request. Alternatively, the YMCA of DC offers private lessons with their pickleball professionals at two locations: YMCA Bethesda or YMCA Silver Spring.
