Jackson Clavier/East Tennessean
All across ETSU’s campus, students and faculty are buzzing about a new form of entertainment and sports recreation. Pickleball, a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis, has been increasingly popular with young adults around the Johnson City area. With this rising demand, Campus Recreation took steps to make this popular sport a home here on campus.
Kari Albarado, director of Campus Recreation at ETSU, was ecstatic about the opening of the pickleball courts at the CPA.
“This project was something former members of SGA led by Finn Shirley, class of ’25, advocated for,” Albarado said. “The project was funded by the Facilities Improvement Fund, in partnership with Student Life & Enrollment and Campus Recreation. Laura Bailey and her team in Capital Planning did an amazing job in planning this project.”
Albarado also said she cannot wait for ETSU students, faculty, staff and CPA members to enjoy the new space.
The celebration of the opening of the new pickleball courts and the Pickle and Paddle Social was a huge success. Students began lining up at 4 p.m. for their chance to get a custom Running Bucky pickleball swag item with options of a paddle, tumbler or canvas bag, and more than 300 students stopped by the event. Additionally, SGA President Shelby Koerten had the honor of opening the gates to welcome students in.
“The event will be one of the most memorable from my career and was a wonderful celebration of a lot of work from
Jackson Clavier/East Tennessean
Jackson Clavier/East Tennessean
students and administrators to bring an idea to life,” Albarado said. “I’m very proud that this project was initiated by students and very grateful for the support from the Facilities Improvement Fund and Jeremy Ross.”
The CPA pickleball courts include two courts and are lighted for play at night. The courts will be open during the same hours of operation as the CPA and are open to ETSU students, faculty and staff, as well as CPA members. Pickleball equipment is available for checkout inside the CPA at the Equipment Desk.
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