On May 26, US outlet Axios reported that the growth rate of pickleball courts in the 100 major US cities sharply decelerated from 14% in 2024 to just 4% in 2026. The analysis, based on the latest data from the nonprofit Trust for Public Land (TPL), shows the first clear brake being applied to pickleball facility development, which had achieved explosive growth of nearly 900% since 2017.
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% | The height of the boom |
| 2025 | 13% | A slight decline but maintaining a high level |
| 2026 | 4% | About a 70% plunge year over year |
TPL park research director Will Klein explains, "Cities are still adding courts. But 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 that "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% |
What's noteworthy is that gardens (community gardens) are growing at +8%, twice the pace of pickleball. Disc golf is at +4% and outdoor fitness zones at +3%, showing the reality of parks' amenities diversifying. Municipalities are steering toward responding to multiple resident needs rather than "pickleball only."
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
The slowing of the court growth rate affects related industries such as equipment makers, teaching pros, and tournament operators. If new courts don't increase, the pace of beginners entering the sport also slows, and the scenario for expanding the entire market may be forced to be revised.
That said, the existing infrastructure of 3,765 courts, built up through cumulative growth of about 900% since 2017, remains intact. Even if the pace of new construction falls, there's room for the playing population to keep growing by raising the utilization rate of existing courts and enriching programs. Viewed as a shift from a "construction phase" to a "utilization phase," it's not necessarily all pessimism.
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 (reporter Alex Fitzpatrick) |
| Article Publication Date | May 26, 2026 |
Summary
The fact that the growth rate of pickleball courts in the 100 major US cities plunged from 14% to 4% is weighty. However, this is not a decline in the playing population, but a structural slowing due to municipal budget constraints and the diversification of park facilities. Private investment remains active, and the commercial sector is, if anything, taking a more aggressive stance, with The Picklr's Japan rollout and Apollo's large investment. Whether you see it as "the end of the boom" or "a transition to a maturing phase" changes greatly depending on whether you view it from the public or private perspective.
Source:Axios (May 26, 2026)
