Six More Pickleball Courts Slated for Eau Claire Park

V1 Staff |

Forget hoverboard racing and lunar golf. The real sport of the future is here now, and it’s called pickleball. The paddle sport – consider it a cousin of tennis and badminton – is rising in popularity in the Chippewa Valley, so much so that the Eau Claire City Council has approved a plan to build six more pickleball courts, as well as a 24-stall parking area, at McDonough Park. While details of who will pay for what won’t be settled until a Feb. 9 council meeting, city parks and public works director Phil Fieber says the total cost of about $120,000 will likely be split between $60,000 raised by pickleball players and $60,000 worth of labor – such as earthmoving and grading – by city workers. There already are six pickleball courts at the park, and enthusiasts of the sport play during the winter at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center and other locations. Fieber said pickleball is particularly popular among older players who formerly enjoyed tennis or racquetball but no longer tolerate the strain those sports put on their joints. The Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club has about 110 members, and plans to raise money for the project. Learn more at chippewavalleypickleballclub.com.