May 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 16

Prominent examples of the sport's
growing appeal are new active-adult
developments based around pickleball, some including as many as 12
courts and spectator bleachers.
" The learning curve is good in
terms of how quickly you can pick
up the game, " Rosenquist says. " I've
seen people come from almost every
single different walk of life. I think
tennis people gravitate to it most because it reminds them of that sport,
but people come from all different
backgrounds. "
Although Zielger cautions that
pickleball courts can be noisy for a
residential area, the growing interest
in the sport is no surprise to him -
he's seen baby boomers redefine retirement just as they have redefined
lifestyles for decades.
" They don't want to do things that
are old, " says Ziegler, referring to the
diminishing interest in shuffleboard.
" They still believe they can do what
they did 20 years ago. "
He rattles off some startling statistics about his facilities, such as
40,000 uses of the fitness center and
55,000 rounds of golf played each
year. Ziegler notes that tennis is still
popular as well, especially on synthetic grass courts that are easier on
players' knees. Pilates, strength training and yoga classes are also well-attended by both men and women, and

DID YOU KNOW...
Pickleball was invented in 1965
by Congressman Joel Pritchard
and businessman Bill Bell at
Pritchard's home on Bainbridge
Island, Washington. The game
was named after Pritchard's cocker spaniel Pickles, who often ran
away with the ball.

Parks & Recreation

Chuck Roderique, USAPA

Front Page

the complex is considering whether
to add a second pool just for activities
like water volleyball, which is now
played four days a week.
" In any community like this, every
special-interest group is small compared to the total community, " Ziegler
says. " Getting community buy-in on
some of these specialty items and trying to help the special-interest groups
support some of the fundraising to
make these things happen will be a
challenge for the future. "
Other sports where he sees growth
for active adults include hiking, cycling and bocce.
" People are attracted here because
of the outdoor environment yearround. We've got 14 miles of hiking
trails across the street. Sometimes
rather aggressive hiking to the tune
of 10 miles or more are among some
of the hiking clubs' activities, and
they are probably the fastest-growing
group that we see out there as well....I
see many more adults age 50-plus
who are purchasing bikes and riding

| M AY 2 0 1 3 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

Appealing to active individuals of all ages,
pickleball has skyrocketed from 60,000 to
100,000 players in the last three years.

seriously. In El Tour de Tucson, which
is held each November and has 5,000
to 8,000 riders in it, the number of
adults participating in that activity is
growing significantly, " Ziegler says.
" Bocce is somewhat of a sport game,
and the social aspect of the sport and
skill gives you a little bit of the effect
of the old format of lawn bowling.
But because of the European history
and the socialization aspect of it, people are seeing that as fun to do.
" Everything physical seems to be
on the increase as the baby boomers
are starting to hit our market more
heavily and starting to purchase and
move into these type of communities, " Ziegler continues. " Everything
that they grew up with, they're planning to bring with them. "
Elizabeth Beard is Managing Editor of Parks
& Recreation (ebeard@nrpa.org).

May 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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