Last Year More Americans Played Pickleball Than Golf
Apr 14, 2026
More Americans played pickleball last year than golf. The courts haven't caught up yet. Participation has increased by more than 150% in three years. The players exist. The facilities don't.
In most markets — including Jacksonville — dedicated, covered space is still scarce. That gap between demand and supply is exactly where development opportunities live. We've been watching this one for a while. It's part of why we included pickleball courts at Aterro Recreational Park.
And it's why we're now building a purpose-built facility — on land we already own, in a market we know well, with demand that isn't slowing down.
Here's the thing about niche real estate: It looks risky until the niche goes mainstream. By then, the opportunity is gone.
If you want to walk through the deal thesis, I'm happy to do that.