City Walk Bham Pickleball in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama, uses its downtown location to full advantage by making pickleball accessible for all. Part of the mile-and-a-half-long park built beneath the interstate with federal grant monies from the Department of Transportation, the ten outdoor courts provide residents, tourists, students of all ages, and families with a fabulous space to learn and enjoy pickleball.
Creating More Accessibility
Pye Parsons, Pickleball Director and Tournament Manager for City Walk Bham Pickleball, says most pickleball facilities in Birmingham are located in the suburbs. City Walk’s location makes it accessible to Birmingham’s large downtown population as well as amenities, including restaurants, hotels, convention centers, and more.
“We have the most diverse and integrated group of people playing here. From University of Alabama Birmingham students to kid camps, adult social leagues, and soon wheelchair accessible courts, it’s so great to see,” Pye says. “City Park is here to serve the community, touch people’s lives, and get them involved.”
Building Community Through Local Partnerships
One way the club has brought members and the community together is through pickleball nights with local sports teams and Pickleball tournaments.
Birmingham’s professional American football team, the Birmingham Stallions, asked the club to host a community event. Pye was delighted to participate and lined up matches between the players and members.
“It was so fun to have everyone out to watch these guys get beaten by 50-year-old women! Everyone had a blast!” she says. “We then took a group to their football game. It was a great way to connect with what our downtown offers and get everyone more involved.”
Pye says they plan to offer monthly social play events with more community members, including:
- The fire department
- The police department
- The local soccer team
This is all part of their community-building efforts to bring people together and attract those who might not have thought about playing before.
From Empty Courts to 1,300 Players
Prior to Pye’s position, the courts sat mostly empty. Once professional programming, including clinics, leagues, socials, tournaments, etc., were introduced to the community, the courts took off. The club now has an email list of nearly 1,300 players with new participants joining regularly and full courts, leagues, and clinics.
In keeping with accessibility, City Walk focuses on serving as an entry point to pickleball and on providing instruction as players develop.
Pye says they started with Pickleball 101, and now many of those players are enrolled in 401. She keeps hiring coaches who match her players’ needs to keep their enthusiasm growing. She says there are plenty of places for higher-level players and wanted to be sure to keep City Walk available as a place to start.
Youth Pickleball Programming: What Actually Works
As many program managers know, getting youth involved with pickleball isn’t the same as getting adults involved. Pye’s advice is to remember kids just want to play! And, they are highly teachable.
“We started doing skills and the typical drills with our youth programs, and they didn’t seem to be having fun. We quickly changed it up, and now all they want to do is play!”
Instructors focused on fun games that teach them to keep the ball low and paddle out, etc. Modifying games they are familiar with already, like Four Square, or fun and fast-paced games like Dinkle that focus on skills needed to play in the kitchen. can keep their attention while teaching the skills they need to improve.
She noted that younger players catch on really fast and are so eager to learn. Within four days, they see improvements, and now they just need to provide a space for the kids to land and play. City Walk is working hard to be that venue and provide youth-centered spaces to play from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. With 2 – 3 courts typically full, it’s clear the program is a success.
Business Partnerships and Family Programming
To encourage even more participation, City Walk is working to partner with local businesses, such as IV Hydration and B12 Vitamin Shot clinics, for parents. Bringing in downtown businesses is a win-win as City Walk can get more families on courts, and the businesses can meet more new clients. The club is also looking to add a kid tournament, along with parent/child and family tournaments.
As a fully lit facility, the club is open every day from 7:00 AM – 9:00. This wide range of hours gives everyone the chance to play, from students to retirees to working professionals and families. Another accessibility point is that while reservations are recommended, if a court is open, people are welcome to play until a reservation arrives.
“It has been such a joy to watch this facility grow as we meet the needs of our pickleball and downtown communities of all ages,” Pye says. “From watching retirees enjoy themselves, people get more involved with what the city has to offer, and especially the children. Their joy and happiness are contagious.”
By serving beginners, families, students, and residents who previously lacked access to the sport, City Walk Bham has found its niche by creating a thriving pickleball ecosystem in Birmingham’s urban core.
FAQ: Running a Community-Centered Pickleball Club
What makes City Walk Bham Pickleball unique? City Walk Bham Pickleball is located in downtown Birmingham, giving it access to a diverse urban population that most suburban facilities lack. The club serves everyone from UAB students to retirees and offers programming from beginner 101 clinics through advanced 401 sessions.
How did City Walk grow its pickleball membership? By introducing fun and engaging programs, like clinics, leagues, socials, and tournaments. The club grew from mostly empty courts to an email list of nearly 1,300 players through community partnerships, youth programs, and consistent open court hours.
What youth pickleball programs work best? City Walk shifted away from drills toward play-based games like modified Four Square and Dinkle. Kids showed improvement within four days, and courts stay full during dedicated 3:00 to 5:00 PM youth hours.
How do pickleball clubs partner with local businesses? City Walk partners with downtown businesses like IV Hydration and B12 clinics to bring value to parents on-site while their kids play. This model benefits both the club and the businesses by connecting them to new audiences.
Keep Reading
For more stories on how club owners are building thriving pickleball communities, explore the In The Kitchen section at Pickleball Club Magazine.
- From Tennis Roots to Pickleball Growth: How One Owner Made the Shift Work
- TapNPaddle Gives a Look Inside a High-Performing Pickleball Club
- Lessons from SPORTIME Pickleball on Hiring and Developing Pickleball Staff
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