Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. Almost 5 million picklers play the paddle-based sports, including thousands of people right here in the Triangle.

Here’s everything you need to know about pickleball in the Triangle. If you know of another resource or court, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll add it to this guide.

Where to start

Pickleball Carolina has a robust Facebook page for players in the Triangle, with information on tournaments, courts, training opportunities, and equipment. Run by Coach Joe Borrelli, a Level II Certified Pickleball Coach, you can consider this your starting point for dipping your paddle in.

Chapel Hill Pickleball‘s tagline is “Have Fun. Play Fair. Honor the Call. It’s Only a Game.” Their detailed website has a calendar, information about clinics, and a mailing list for players to get more information.

Raleigh Pickleball Club organizes events and drop-in play for players in Wake County

Triangle Pickleball Enthusiasts, based in Cary and Apex, organizes drop-in play and organized events

Durham Area Pickleball Players maintains information for beginners, events, and resources for Durham-area players

Where to play

Chapel Hill

Parks and Rec has details on hours and reservation.

Courts are available on a first-come, first served basis but can be reserved for guaranteed use. Courts may be reserved for $10 per hour per court for daytime use, $20 per hour per court for evening use with lights. The non-resident rate is $20 and $24.

Cedar Falls Park, 501 Weaver Dairy Road

6 courts

Ephesus Park, 1501 Ephesus Church Road

Home of 6 pickleball courts open from dawn to dusk

Southern Community Park, 1000 Sumac Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The in-line hockey rink converts to 5 outdoor courts. Hours on the Chapel Hill parks and rec website.

Hargreaves Center Park, 216 North Roberson Street

4 courts

Oakwood Park, 20 Oakwood Drive

One court – be prepared to wait!

Phillips Park, Phillips Middle School, 606 North Estes Drive

4 courts

Carrboro

Wilson Park, 101 Williams Street

4 courts

Durham 

Durham has pickleball programming, clinics, tournaments, outdoor sites, and indoor courts. More information is available on the Parks and Rec website.

Outdoor courts

Indoor Courts

Information on indoor courts is available through Durham Parks and Rec.

Raleigh

Raleigh Parks has six permanent outdoor pickleball courts located at Method Community Park and six permanent outdoor courts at North Hills Park.

Indoor open-play is also offered at the following community centers

Cary

Cary is also home to a robust pickleball presence. The town’s parks and recs page has information on clinics and courts.

Outdoor Courts

White Oak Park (3 courts without lights)
Carpenter Park  (3 courts with lights)

Melody Kramer is a Peabody-award winning journalist whose work has appeared on NPR and member stations around the country, as well as in publications ranging from National Geographic to Esquire Magazine....