Where can you play pickleball in Manatee County? Here’s a list of public courts

Jason Dill
·2 min read

Pickleball has exploded in popularity in recent years with the sport becoming the fastest-growing one in the country, according to a USA Pickleball report.

Florida is a popular state for the sport, which uses a court size measuring 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. The Sunshine State only trails California in the number of places and courts to play pickleball.

There are 2,854 courts at 622 places throughout the state that offer the sport, according to USA Pickleball.

A full set of rules can be found on USAPickleball.com.

Manatee County is set to enjoy an indoor court facility when Maryland-based Dill Dinkers expands to the Tampa Bay area with a potential opening date in later 2024 or early 2025.

But for now, these are the existing public places to play the trendy sport.

G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W.

The Bradenton venue’s courts are at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center, which opened in 2022. The courts made Pickleball Magazine’s 25 Great Places to Play Pickleball list in 2023.

Four of the 20 courts are indoor, with 14 courts being covered and six uncovered. The daily fee is $5 and more information on hours and reservations can be found at MyManatee.org.

Jerry Jones of Bradenton plays a doubles match of pickleball at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
Jerry Jones of Bradenton plays a doubles match of pickleball at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.

Governor Ron DeSantis Park, 7510 Prospect Road

The park, which opened in 2023 and is named after Florida’s 46th governor, features two shaded pickleball courts. The park is located near Kinnan Elementary in South Manatee County.

John H. Marble Park, 3675 53rd Ave. E.

There are two lighted tennis courts that can be used for pickleball located east of U.S. 301 off State Road 70.

Lakewood Ranch Park, 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

For those in East Manatee, there are five courts to play the game in Lakewood Ranch. The park is a stone’s throw from Lakewood Ranch High School off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Matches underway at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
Matches underway at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.

Palmetto Tennis Courts, 1500 10th St. W.

Reservations are not required for those north of the Manatee River looking for a pickleball game at Palmetto’s tennis courts located near the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club off 10th Street West.

University Place Community Park, 7850 Cooper Creek Blvd.

Wait times could be long if you’re looking for a game at this park. That’s because there is only one court for pickleball.

It’s located north of the University Town Center Mall and can be accessed from University Parkway to Cooper Creek Boulevard or via Honore Avenue and Cooper Creek Boulevard.

Did we miss any Manatee County pickleball courts? Let us know by emailing jdill@bradenton.com, and we’ll update this list.

Brandon Burr plays doubles at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
Brandon Burr plays doubles at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
Ray Broccolo from Newfoundland plays a match at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.
Ray Broccolo from Newfoundland plays a match at the C.V. Walton Racquet Center Pickleball Courts at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center.