米メディアAxiosは5月26日、米国主要100都市におけるピックルボールコートの増加率が2024年の14%から2026年にはわずか4%へ急減速したと報じた。非営利団体Trust for Public Land（TPL）のデータに基づく分析で、2017年以降ほぼ900%という爆発的成長を遂げてきたピックルボール施設整備に、初めて明確なブレーキがかかった。
The Trajectory of the Court Growth Rate -- From 14% to 4% in 3 Years
The top 100 US cities by population tracked by TPL now have a combined 3,765 pickleball courts. Looking at the trajectory of the growth rate lays bare the severity of the slowdown.
| Year | Court Growth Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-2023 | About 900% cumulative | Explosive facility development nationwide |
| 2024 | 14% | 高い増加率を維持 |
| 2025 | 13% | 微減 |
| 2026 | 4% | About a 70% plunge year over year |
TPL park research director Will Klein explains, "Cities are still adding courts. But since 2017, it's no longer the furious pace seen over the past two years."
Background -- Municipal Fiscal Strain and the "Scramble for Facilities"
Behind the slowdown are municipalities' fiscal circumstances. Klein pointed out, "This slowdown reflects a trend widely seen across the nation's park systems. Local governments have to balance tight budgets, aging infrastructure, and rising demand for a wide variety of recreational facilities."
Building pickleball courts, including repurposing existing tennis courts, has created competition with other sports facilities. In the city of Boulder,friction with tennis enthusiasts over breaking ground on a 12-court dedicated facilityhas surfaced, and the allocation of limited public land is a challenge common across the US.
Gardens and Disc Golf Grow Instead -- Diversification of Parks Advances
| Facility Type | 2026 Growth Rate |
|---|---|
| Gardens (community gardens) | +8% |
| Pickleball courts | +4% |
| Disc golf courses | +4% |
| Outdoor fitness zones | +3% |
ガーデン（コミュニティ菜園）が+8%と、ピックルボールの2倍のペースで伸びている。ディスクゴルフも+4%、屋外フィットネスゾーンが+3%と、公園のアメニティが多様化している。自治体は複数の住民ニーズに応える方向へ舵を切りつつある。
Industry Reactions -- Not an "End" but a "Maturing"?
Axios's headline is provocative, but industry insiders' views are split.
TPL's Will Kleinanalyzes the slowdown not as "the end of the boom" but as a structural slowing due to municipal budget and infrastructure circumstances. He does not say that pickleball's popularity itself has declined.
On the private-investment side, the inflow of funds into commercial facilities is, if anything, accelerating, with Apollo building an ecosystem worth $750 million in enterprise value bypouring $225 million into Dundon Enterprises. It's a picture of a temperature gap between public and private.
The facility chainThe Picklr isplanning to roll out 20 facilities in Japan, continuing its path of global expansion.
Impact on Japan -- The Risk of a Single-Minded "US Model"
In Japan, the development of pickleball facilities has only just begun. While openings of new facilities such as in Sakai, Osaka and Tokyo Tower continue, the US model of relying on public facilities won't necessarily serve as a direct reference.
What the US slowdown suggests is the risk that relying solely on public facility development leaves you at the mercy of changes in municipal budgets and residents' facility needs. In Japan too, combining private-operated, membership-based models with public facilities will likely be the key to sustained growth.
Ripple Effects Across the Pickleball Industry
コート増加率の鈍化は、用具メーカー・レッスンプロ・大会運営など関連産業にも影響する。新設コートが増えなければ初心者の参入ペースも鈍化する可能性がある。
ただし2017年以降の累計約900%成長で積み上がった3,765面という既存インフラは健在だ。新設ペースが落ちても、既存コートの稼働率向上・プログラム充実によって競技人口は伸び続ける余地がある。「建設フェーズ」から「活用フェーズ」への転換と捉えられる。
Related Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Data Provider | Trust for Public Land（TPL） |
| Survey Target | Top 100 US cities by population |
| Current Total Courts | 3,765 |
| Reported By | Axios Sports |
| Article Publication Date | May 26, 2026 |
Summary
米主要100都市でピックルボールコートの増加率が14%→4%へ急落した事実は、公共施設整備の減速を示す。ただし、これは競技人口の減少ではなく、自治体予算の制約と公園施設の多様化による構造的な鈍化だ。民間投資は依然活発で、The Picklrの日本展開やApolloの大型出資など、商業セクターはむしろ攻めの姿勢を強めている。「ブームの終焉」と見るか「成熟期への移行」と見るかは、公共と民間どちらの視点で見るかによって大きく変わる。
Source:Axios “Pickleball court building has slowed” (May 26, 2026)
