By 
October 5, 2026
Pickleball has found its orbit in Huntsville.
Like cities across the country, Huntsville has seen the sport with the funny name and seemingly confusing rules grow in popularity. And yes, a “kitchen” is where you cook. In pickleball, though, it’s the seven-foot non-volley zone near the net.
According to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), Huntsville ranks No. 2 among the 10 fastest-growing pickleball cities in the nation.
DUPR analyzed 12 months of player data and found Huntsville had a 70.6% increase in new users, trailing No. 1 Cleveland, Ohio, by just 1%.
DUPR is a global rating system used by pickleball players to track their skill levels and is used in league and professional tournament play.
“Pickleball lets you have fun almost immediately,” said Huntsville Pickleball Club President Max Patin. “You can pick up a paddle for the first time and be part of a game within minutes. Then you discover how much there is to learn and you want to come back and get better. The game rewards power and positioning, but also patience and strategy. That gives people of different ages, abilities and playing styles a way in.”
DUPR described Huntsville as one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in the country, pointing to the growth of the sport in new communities and the development of strong local player networks outside traditionally recognized pickleball hotspots.
That growth is easy to see around Huntsville.
Pickleball can be played indoors on gymnasium floors lined for the sport, outdoors on dedicated pickleball courts or on tennis courts with additional pickleball lines.
Across Huntsville, residents have more than 30 opportunities each week to play indoor pickleball at Parks & Recreation facilities.
First-come, first-served outdoor courts are available for tennis and pickleball, along with 44 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts.
And those numbers only tell part of the story. They do not include the additional courts available at private and fee-based facilities throughout the community.
Together, these options give Huntsville residents a range of ways to get on the court, whether they are looking for a free, first-come, first-served game at a city park, an indoor recreation center session or a dedicated facility with additional amenities.
“Come as you are, tell people you’re new and give yourself permission to be a beginner,” Patin said. “Most players remember their first day and are happy to help.”
For Patin, those first few games eventually became 1,000.
“When I reached 999 recorded matches in DUPR, I reached back to the first three players that introduced me to the sport and made sure they were there again for my 1000th match.”
Two of the city’s largest outdoor pickleball destinations are the John Hunt Park Recreation Center Pickleball Complex and the Sandra Moon Community Complex.
The Sandra Moon Community Complex features 12 lighted, regulation-size pickleball courts, giving players another dedicated place to play in Huntsville.
Sandra Moon Community Complex outdoor courts
In John Hunt Park, the John Hunt Park Recreation Center pickleball complex features 24 covered and lighted regulation courts, along with a championship play court. Since its opening in June 2026, the pickleball complex has seen an estimated 27,500 visits. Including 11 official tournaments.
John Hunt Park Recreation Center pickleball complex
“We always joke about how you can never build enough pickleball courts and I know everyone who plays pickleball agrees with that,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm and for the City to be a part of such a fast-growing sport.”
For Huntsville’s pickleball players, though, the growth comes down to something pretty simple: more places to play.
“We’re fortunate to have a Parks & Recreation department that has invested in places for people to play,” said Patin. “Those courts give the community a place to grow together.”
