Support Us Button Widget

Playing pickleball in Lakeland

Ready to try your hand at America’s new favorite sport? Check out our guide to Lakeland’s indoor and outdoor pickleball courts.

An outdoor pickleball court on a sunny day

Table of Contents

Have y’all heard about pickleball? If you haven’t, it’s kind of a big dill. Pickleball shares similarities with tennis, table tennis + badminton (as well as other paddle ball sports). It has official rules, regulations, and even its own organization — the USA Pickleball Association. Here’s the lowdown on the game so you don’t find yourself in a pickle:

  • It can be played indoors or outdoors.
  • The court is badminton-sized (20 ft x 44 ft) with a modified tennis net.
  • The pickleball itself is made of plastic + has holes, like a wiffleball. The paddle is a little smaller than a tennis racquet.
  • It can be played as doubles or singles — that means 2-4 people, for those who are new to racket sports.

According to Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department’s Program Coordinator Beth Sherling, the City of Lakeland first began offering open-play pickleball just over a decade ago. These days, Lakelanders can find pickleball courts (or tennis courts lined for pickleball) at most of Lakeland’s outdoor tennis sites.

Where can you play in Lakeland?

  • Kelly Recreation Complex, 404 Imperial Blvd. | Play indoor pickleball Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Outdoor pickleball courts are open daily from dawn until dusk.
  • Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. | Play indoor pickleball Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Lake Parker Park, 820 E. Robson St. | Use Gate 4 to play outdoor pickleball daily, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
  • Woodlake Park, 3415 New Jersey Rd. | Play outdoor pickleball daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • If you’re interested in joining a pickleball league, this site can help you find or establish one in the Lakeland area.

Pro tip: Email Lakeland’s Recreation Division and set up a time for a staff member or Lakeland’s current tennis professional, Cy Smith of the United States Professional Tennis Association, to be on-site to show you the ropes.

More from LALtoday
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.
Take a bite of Lakeland’s past at these restaurants that have stood the test of time.
It’s your party and you’ll enjoy these deals if you want to.
Dive into how nearly a century and a half of history is kept alive with historical markers around town.
This list of volunteer opportunities in Lakeland includes everything from packing food for children in need to fostering pets.
Millions of years ago, marine animals, mammals, and reptiles called Florida home. Learn about five whose fossils have been found in the Bone Valley area of Polk County.