Pickleball Courts Are Coming to Arts Landing
Debuting in time for Picklesburgh, the courts will remain open even after the festival is over.
PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK
People often ask if Pickleball has anything to do with pickles. According to officials at the Pickleball Warehouse in Homewood, next month it will.
Pickleball will join the festival lineup at Arts Landing for Picklesburgh, scheduled to take place this year July 16-19.
“If you’ve been curious about the fastest-growing sport in America, there’s no better way to try it,” says Alexa Gervasi, owner of the Pickleball Warehouse.
Brand-new painted Pickleball courts in Arts Landing will feature commissioned public artwork created specifically for the space, which will be the site of tournaments, beginner-friendly clinics, demonstrations and learn-to-play sessions presented by the Pickleball Warehouse, offered at select times every day during the festival.
The addition comes as Pickleball continues to balloon in popularity. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the sport has seen a 311% growth rate over the last three years, with 2,300 new court locations added in 2025. That brings the total to 18,258 locations nationwide.
Now, it’s 18,259.
“We’ve been asked for years to incorporate Pickleball into Picklesburgh, and with the investments in Arts Landing, we can finally make it happen,” says Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the organization that presents Picklesburgh each year. “Implementing Pickleball into the festival footprint is a great way to continue to grow and evolve the festival, but more importantly, these new courts are the latest amenity for the public to enjoy for years and years to come.”
He adds that investments like these are “exactly what we need to continue to see Downtown.”
The Cultural Trust commissioned artist Sharmistha Ray to create a vibrant ground mural for Arts Landing’s new pickleball courts, marking the first installation of its kind in the region. Titled “Geometry of Play,” the work is among 23 pieces by 10 artists featured in the Cultural Trust’s inaugural public art program for Arts Landing.
Painted directly onto the playing surface, “Geometry of Play” “transforms the courts into a dynamic visual landscape, merging the logic of game design with the fluidity of abstract painting,” a statement from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says. The artwork features interlocking patterns of circles, triangles and grids, which reference kaleidoscopic mandalas and architectural ornamentation while playfully echoing the rules and rhythms of the game itself.
As players move across the court, the mural creates a constantly shifting visual and physical experience, according to the organization.
To learn more, or to sign up for a clinic during Picklesburgh, visit Picklesburgh’s website.
