CHARLESTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Eastern Illinois University is holding ribbon cuttings during the opening of the new school year to announce its new indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, as well as renovations to the SRC.
The new/renovated pickleball courts are a part of a nationwide collegiate trend to provide college students with more opportunities for physical activity, social connection, and campus engagement. Pickleball has experienced a surge in participation of more than 200% nationwide over the last three years, according to the Sports and Industry Association. Young adults, including college students, now make up the largest share of players in the sport, with 2.3 million players between the ages of 25 and 35.
“For EIU, the new courts provide not just recreation, but also an avenue for student belonging,” Daugherty said. “That type of engagement is a critical part of EIU’s mission and aligns with health and recreational initiatives that are vital to our campus and collective communities.”
The first ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on August 21, EIU’s moving day. The event will feature remarks from Alexis Weger, a Junior at EIU and President of the campus’s Pickleball Club. It will also feature comments from the EIU President and Vice-President, Dr. Anne Flaherty from Student Affairs, and Josh Norman from Enrollment Management. Around 4:15 p.m., Weger is set to cut the ribbon and open the outdoor courts. Attendees are encouraged to play pickleball and basketball following the ceremony.
“The EIU Pickleball Club offers students a way to learn the sport, compete, and make connections that extend beyond the court.” Weger added. “We’re excited to grow additional interest in the sport at EIU, and to offer EIU’s courts as a place for local and regional tournaments.”
The second ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on the first day of classes for EIU students, on August 25. The ceremony will feature comments from the Director of Campus Recreation, Sarah Daugherty, and EIU President Gatrell. The second ribbon cutting will not only celebrate the opening of the indoor pickleball courts, but also the opening of three SRC studios with new flooring. The new rooms will be the Aerobics Room, the Dance Studio, and a branded area named Synrgy Studio. EIU’s indoor courts also provide space for basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
EIU, along with the University of Alabama, Arkansas Tech University, and Eastern Mennonite University, has now added or renovated spaces for pickleball competitions. These schools have joined more than 200 campuses across the U.S. offering the sport on institutional grounds.
Both events are free and open to the public to attend and participate. Locations of the new pickleball courts are listed below.
- EIU’s outdoor pickleball courts are located outside Groniger Arena near the Lantz Athletic Complex at the intersection of Fourth Street and Grant Avenue.
- EIU’s indoor pickleball courts are located in the Student Rec Center, housed inside the Lantz Sports Complex.
