Grand Rapids is a Midwest Hub for Pickleball

Stop by Belknap Park in downtown Grand Rapids any summer or fall evening and you’re liable to see upwards of 100 people playing (or waiting to play) the fastest growing sport in America. Pickleball, often described as a cross between tennis, badminton and ping pong, is in the midst of a certified boom.

The Sports Fitness Industry Association reports that there were approximately 19.8 million U.S. pickleball players in 2024, marking a 311% increase over three years, and participation is expected to exceed 25 million in 2026. Local residents have taken to the sport in a big way: Grand Rapids was named the 3rd most “pickleball-obsessed” city in the U.S. in 2023, and the area has become one of the Midwest’s best and most supportive places to play.

“The pickleball facility at Belknap Park is one of the finest in the Midwest,” confirms John Frizzo, president of the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club, which was formed in 2012, before there were any pickleball courts at Belknap. The group raised the funds to transform some of the park’s rundown tennis courts into six pickleball courts that summer. They added more courts over the next decade – it’s up to 21 outdoor courts now – and upgraded lighting fixtures and fencing.

Over the same decade, club membership grew from a handful of people to roughly 650 in 2021, 1,150 in 2022 and upwards of 1,800 today.  Member benefits include access to club tournaments, events and ladder leagues, a format of play designed so that players compete mostly against others of similar skill levels.

Just as importantly, members enjoy the fellowship of a friendly and supportive community while helping advance the profile and reach of the sport throughout West Michigan.

A Sport for Everybody

“Pickleball is a very social experience,” explains Frizzo. “It’s a great way to meet new people.” Paul Richards, who is the Club’s Director of Belknap Enhancement and also serves on the Board, agrees: “I’ve met so many people through pickleball that I wouldn’t have otherwise," he said in 2022. I’m 70 years old and I have 400-500 new friends I didn’t have a few years ago.”

Those friends range from kids to 80somethings. While pickleball was first embraced by the senior citizen crowd, the average player age has dropped to under 35 years old and 25-34 year-olds make up the largest segment. Frizzo, who played in his first pickleball tournament in 2018, says Grand Rapids is experiencing the same influx of young pickleballers.

While the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club is a pro-level facility, it’s not at all intimidating to novices. “We offer Intro to Pickleball classes and four of the courts in the back are for beginners,” says Richards. “Another six courts are for family and friends to play together. Or you can show up and play with random people, there’s always someone who’s at your skill level. Just do a little online research first.” USA Pickleball has a good primer on mastering the basics.

The Beer City Open

Pickleballers of all ages come to Grand Rapids every summer to compete in the Beer City Open at Belknap Park. Co-founded by Richards and Andrea Koop, a top-ranked professional player, the Beer City Open began in 2018 with 350 participants and $12,000 in prize money. It took just a few years to become one of the biggest tournaments in the country. In 2025, nearly 200 pros and more than 1,000 amateurs participated, with the pros competing for a prize purse of $250,000. Select matches were streamed on ESPN, YouTube and Pickleball TV.   

The Beer City Open was the only event of the 2025 Major League Pickleball season in which all 22 professional teams competed, giving fans – local and otherwise – a chance to see top-tier talent in action and support amateurs. The first two days of the tournament, featuring early amateur matches and professional practice rounds, are free and open to the public, but a grounds pass must be purchased to enter the facility and watch Major League play the nest four days. The “grounds” also include a festival-style fan zone featuring food trucks, beer and beverage tents, pickleball vendors and more. It’s a fun, family-friendly atmosphere that reflects the convivial spirit of the sport.

All the proceeds from the event go back into the Belknap Enhancement Club, ensuring that Belknap Park will remain a first-class facility for local players and a world-class host for visiting pros.

Where to Play in Grand Rapids

The Club at Belknap Park is the biggest pickleball facility in the area, but it’s not the only one. “Many club members use this as their home base but they also play elsewhere in the city,” says Frizzo.

Here’s a brief look at area courts where you don’t need to be a member or be accompanied by a member to play.

Indoor Play

You can play year-round at these facilities. Check their websites for current rates and hours.

Ace Pickleball Club in southeast Grand Rapids offers unlimited open play for members of all skill levels, plus paddle demonstrations, club-coordinated tournaments, and social events. 

All In Pickleball Gym in Byron Center offers five premium pickleball courts and two training courts, with 16-foot-high containment nets to keep the balls in your own court. 

All in Cedar Rock in Cedar Springs is equipped with four full-sized courts and one training court.

Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits in Kentwood became Michigan’s first indoor pickleball restaurant when it installed two new courts in its taproom in January 2024. You need to sign up for a membership to book a court, but membership is free.

Dinks & Dingers Social Club in southeast GR has six indoor pickleball courts, with open-play availabilities seven days a week. The facility also offers wiffleball and a restaurant & bar. 

Grand Rapids Racquet + Fitness in northeast GR has eight stand-alone pickleball courts. The facility also hosts tournaments and serves as the indoor backup location for the Beer City Open and the Meijer State Games of Michigan.

Impact Dynamic Training in Hudsonville offers non-member rates for open play, court rentals and regular training classes.

The Kentwood Activities Center hosts drop-in pickleball sessions several days a week.

The MSA (Michigan Sports Academies) Fieldhouse and MSA Woodland offer non-member rates for drop-in pickleball Monday-Friday mornings.

 MVP Sportsplex in southeast GR and MVP Rockford have lined tennis courts with temporary nets for pickleball, and offer a variety of classes open to both members and non-members.

New Community Church in northeast GR has three indoor courts that can be reserved on Thursdays and Fridays.

Pickle & Pin in GR’s West Leonard Street neighborhood offers three pickleball courts, three golf simulator bays and a full bar.

Premier Athletic Club in Grandville has open-play slots available 7 days a week for members and non-members alike.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center hosts drop-in pickleball several mornings a week. Non-members can purchase a day pass for this southeast side facility.

Outdoor Play

Outdoor court availability is dependent on the weather but are generally open from spring through fall.

A number of local parks are equipped with outdoor courts, including:

• Ada Township Park - 6 courts
• Allendale Community Park - 8 courts
• Alpine Township Sports Park - 4 courts
• Bicentennial Park in Byron Center - 12 courts
• Cannon Township Campus - 8 courts
• Cherry Street - 1 court
• Community Green in Caledonia – 4 courts
• Courtland Township Park in Rockford - 8 courts
• Old Farm Park in Kentwood - 4 courts
• Grand River Riverfront Park in Lowell - 8 courts
• Cascade Township Park - 6 courts
• Yankee Springs Township Park in Wayland - 2 courts 
• Walker City Central Park – 6 courts
• Wedgwood Park in Grandville - 2 courts

Downtown GR’s Amway Grand Plaza Hotel has six outdoor courts adjacent to its fourth-floor Fitness Center. Courts are open to both guests and the general public. Reserve a court online or call 616-776-3279.

The local pickleball boom continues apace: The Meijer Sports Complex is opening 20 new outdoor pickleball courts in spring 2026 as part of a $13.5 million expansion, and the Great Lakes Pickleball Club, featuring four courts inside a renovated northeast GR movie theater, is also expected to open in 2026.

If you’re new to the sport, be forewarned: “It truly is addictive,” says Frizzo. “You become addicted to the sport and the people who play it,” adds Richards. “It’s so much fun – come out to Belknap and listen to the laughter.”

The 2026 Beer City Open will take place July 7-12 at Belknap Park. Registration opens April 19, 2026 at 8am. You can purchase grounds passes now. Visit the Beer City Open website and Facebook page for details.