Palmerton may become the latest municipality to offer pickleball as a recreational activity.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council agreed to apply for a Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau grant to fund a new pickleball court by the Elmer Valo Baseball Field on South Third Street.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said he believes the sport would be a big draw in the borough.

“Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country,” Hoffner said. “I can see it being used.”

Councilman Richard Nothstein was absent.

Pickleball is a combination of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The game is played on a court with a net. The surface is smaller than a tennis court.

In April 2022, borough council applied for a grant to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau in the amount of $10,854 to improve the basketball court next to Elmer Valo Baseball Field on South Third Street.

Former borough Manager Donna McGarry said that was the total grant application, for which the borough’s share would be 50%, or $5,427.

McGarry said the work to be done included repairing the existing fencing along the east side, increasing the fence height on the north side, sealing of existing cracks, asphalt coating of the entire court area, lining of the court, and installation of new backboards.

Other pickleball sites

Several surrounding municipalities, including Lehighton and Walnutport, offer pickleball in their respective communities.

In July, Walnutport Borough grant coordinator Michael Wentz announced that pickleball was alive and well.

In June, Walnutport Borough Council unanimously approved a quote of $2,470 from S & G Asphalt Service, Slatington, to line its pickleball and basketball courts.

Of that, $1,560 was to line the pickleball court, and the $910 to line the basketball court.

Wentz said the borough got a good price, and added the borough’s recreation board would pay for the work.

Walnutport Borough Council previously heard a request from resident Bob Benson, who asked for a pickleball court.

A former boys and girls tennis coach at Salisbury High School, Benson previously told council that pickleball is a growing sport.

Benson said that a normal pickleball court costs about $7,000 and suggested that Walnutport borough power-wash its court and line it.

In July, several Lehighton residents endorsed the sport and urged Lehighton Borough Council to consider it at Baer Memorial Park.

Lehighton resident Mark Hoffman said that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country.

Hoffman shared a proposal to allow three pickleball courts on the existing basketball courts at Baer Memorial.

He said at that time the current basketball courts were underutilized.

Hoffman said there would be a minimal cost to paint lines and purchase portable nets on wheels. The next cost about $500 each.

He said other options that were considered were utilizing the existing tennis court at the Grove by painting additional lines within the tennis court; constructing four new permanent courts on the north side of the tennis/basketball court at the Grove; or constructing four new permanent courts at Skyline park.

Hoffman said constructing four new permanent courts at either Skyline or the Grove would be the preferred long-term option provided enough money could be raised or obtained.

Lehighton residents Susie Zern and Tracy Newton said at that time there were few opportunities to play pickleball in Lehighton.