CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Albemarle County Parks Foundation, in partnership with Central Virginia Pickleball Association (CEVA), has expanded the pickleball courts at Darden Towe Park from six to 12.

The grand opening is set for Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, with brief remarks and pickleball-centered activities planned. Players of all ages and skill levels are invited.

The expansion is a culmination of a decade of work by the Central Virginia Pickleball Club to create new court spaces, as their membership and the popularity of the sport has surged.

Maureen Novotne, the current president of the Central Virginia Pickleball Club, noted that the opening marks a milestone for the club after years of repurposing tennis courts in the area, fundraising and overcoming obstacles in bringing the project to fruition.

“It came together remarkably quickly,” Novotne said of the construction.

That sense of urgency spurred from how rapidly pickleball has taken off in communities across the country, particularly in Charlottesville as CEVA’s own membership has grown to around 1000 members.

Before the pandemic, Novotne cited that a desire for permanent courts was partially responsible for the club’s initial structure, as they worked to lobby for permanent spaces.

“It was probably one of the reasons for the club to become organized,” Novotne said. “They always were envisioning dedicated courts and they actually, early on, funded a survey and site plans to be drawn up for a facility out at Darden Towe at the request of the county… but by the time it was done, the county didn’t have any funds to go through with it.”

Despite not having extra funds from Albemarle County, in 2021, the club was able to raise $20,000 to convert two tennis courts out of four at Darden Towe into six pickleball courts. But even after the conversion it became clear that the high demand would require more access.

Then the Albemarle County Parks Foundation, formed in 2023 to help support and maintain recreational spaces in the county, took on the project after it was approved by the Darden Towe Park Committee.

ACPF president and former CEVA president Teddy Hamilton decided to reach out to the club to procure funding, using their momentum to move their vision forward.

With silent auctions and funding from businesses and the public, the club was able to get the backing for the new courts in a year, and work on the additions began in 2025.

“They heartily agreed and worked very hard to get the funding,” Hamilton said. “They were our community partner.”

Now, 12 individually fenced courts will help to balance out the influx of players and provide all with a chance to check out the sport. The new courts are the only dedicated public pickleball courts in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area, according to CEVA’s website. 

The courts not only provide an outlet for people to try out the sport and hone their skills, but for community members and families to socialize and feel more connected, Novotne said.

“Every time I go out [there’s] new people I’ve never seen before,” Novotne said. “The sport’s only going to continue growing.”

Hamilton reflected that the community effort is a reminder of the value of public outdoor spaces, even when funding them can present a challenge.

“Anything that gets people out exercising, socializing with their fellow community members is, to me, a foundationally positive thing for the community,” Hamilton said. “In this case pickleball, as it continues to grow, is just going to help grow that positivity.”