ST. GEORGE — Pickleball players and civic officials recently gathered at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex to celebrate the facility’s recent expansion to 33 courts, including a championship court geared for professional televised matches.
Pickleball players try out the new championship court at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the facility’s recent expansion to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
“This has been incredible for the city of St. George and our quality of life,” Shane Moore, the city’s parks and community services director, told media during the event held Jan. 31.
Pickleball is considered to be America’s fastest-growing sport with an estimated 8.9 million players in the United States and counting, according to an annual report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. In 2020, that number was reported to be around 4.2 million.
The sport’s growth in popularity has exploded in southwest Utah over the last decade.
“We have such a demand for pickleball,” Moore said. “It’s the most requested amenity that our department gets. Everyone wants more courts.”
Locals can visit the Little Valley complex on any given afternoon and find courts filled with players, Moore said, adding that the facility also draws tourism.
St. George has become as well-known for pickleball as it has for the St. George Marathon, Moore said.
According to a press release from the city of St. George, more than 6,000 players participate in tournaments held at Little Valley, including more than 1,000 at the city’s “Fall Brawl” — which is recognized as one of the top five amateur pickleball tournaments in the nation.
Shane Moore the city of St. George’s parks and community services director, speaks to the popularity of pickleball in St. George and how the recent Little Valley Pickleball Complex will be a great benefit to the city and the quality of life city residents and visitors enjoy, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
“There’s a lot of interest and economic impact with these facilities,” Moore said.
Like other sports facilities in St. George, the Little Valley Pickleball Complex hosts various tournaments throughout the year. The city of St. George sponsors four to five tournaments while the Pro Tour of Pickleball holds a major annual tournament at the complex in April.
While tournaments and players will benefit from the additional courts, the new championship court — a larger court with permanent bleachers on each side — is designed to accommodate matches televised by sports networks.
Along with the championship court, eight regular courts were added to the original 24 courts before the additions.
Part of the funding for the expansion, estimated in 2022 to run $2 million, came from Washington County via transient room tax revenue (tourism-based taxes collected from hotels and similar temporary lodging stays within the county). This funding amounted to $1 million.
“We are so grateful for that TRT money,” St. George City Councilman Jimmie Hughes said during the event while also giving credit to local pickleball players for making the complex a reality.
Pickleball players playing at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the facility’s recent expansion to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
The initial push to build a pickleball complex came from a local group of players who approached the city with $50,000 to start such a project. This led to the creation of the Little Valley Pickleball Complex in 2012 with a total of 12 courts.
Due to the ever-increasing popularity of the sport, the St. George City Council voted unanimously in 2015 to add another 12 courts to the facility.
“It’ll be a fantastic venue,” then St. George Mayor Jon Pike said at the time.
Pickleball started around 50 years ago in a community near Seattle, Washington, and was the invention of three fathers who wanted something to keep their children occupied, according to PickleballPortal.com.
Though the sport is popular with young and old alike, roughly 75% of the core players are 55 and older.
The Little Valley Pickleball Court is located at 2330 Horseman Park Drive in St. George. Details regarding use and court reservations can be found on the city’s website.
Photo Gallery
Pickleball players try out the new championship court at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players playing at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players playing at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players playing at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players try out the new championship court at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players playing at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
The first ceremonial serve is made at the to celebrate the recent expansion of the Little Valley Pickleball Court during a gathering attending by players and local civic officials, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Pickleball players try out the new championship court at the Little Valley Pickleball Complex during an event celebrating the recent expansion of the facility to 33 courts, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Shane Moore the city of St. George’s parks and community services director, speaks to the popularity of pickleball in St. George and recent Little Valley Pickleball Complex will be a great benefit to the city and the quality of life city residents and visitors enjoy, St. George, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler. St. George News.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.