The Coshocton Public Library in Central Ohio has expanded its assortment of yard games by adding a new special collection. In addition to cornhole sets and Giant Jenga, patrons can now borrow pickleball sets by presenting either an adult or teen library card. A parent or guardian signature is required if a teen card is used.
The library has six pickleball sets available for borrowing: two are family or beginner-friendly, featuring four non-tournament-approved wooden paddles and four game balls. The other four consist of individual paddle sets, each including a tournament-approved paddle and two game balls.
These pickleball sets are exclusive to the main library in Coshocton and can be checked out for a maximum of two weeks, along with the other yard games.
This new collection was made possible through a collaboration with the Coshocton Pickleball Club and Engage Pickleball. For further details about this fresh addition, visit the library in person, dial 740-622-0956, or email [email protected].
The Coshocton Pickleball Club has about 50 members, but Cathie Akins said they have more than just members who play. https://t.co/yXcDDzgxDA
— Coshocton Tribune (@coshtribune) January 6, 2023
The library at Coshocton is not the only one to have come up with the idea of lending out pickleball equipment. The Pembroke Public Library in Massachusetts and The Keokuk Library in Iowa are just two more public facilities making pickleball paddles and balls available to members.
These smaller-town amenities’ new strategy is representative of how the county is reacting to how the pickleball phenomenon is taking the U.S. by storm. It might not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about what might be the next big thing in the United States. It may not even be your second or third on your list. However, you will be surprised to learn that the ping-pong-tennis combination sport has witnessed a remarkable surge in popularity, with the USA Pickleball Association reporting a 650 % increase in participation numbers over the past six years.
The pickleball frenzy currently taking over the nation has highlighted several excellent hubs for the sport spread throughout the country. However, if you’re a pickleball enthusiast living in the Western region, you’re in for a treat. California alone boasts six of the best cities for pickleball, and the surrounding states of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona each have one.
One of the most notable benefits of this region is its fantastic weather, which might explain its impressive ranking in another crucial factor: the number of outdoor pickleball courts per 100,000 residents. Since pickleball is typically played on modified tennis courts, upgrading existing infrastructure in public parks for more pickleball action is simple.
The number one area for pickleball popularity? Salt Lake City. In spite of its colder climate, it has more outdoor courts than any other region in the country and also tops a poll Coventry Direct conducted to find the place in the U.S. that was most interested in pickleball. Its figure of 75% is miles ahead of second-placed Phoenix with only 38%!
