Fun Friday: Local Pickleball Participation Picking Up in Popularity [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- This week in Fun Friday, we head up to the Whitney Recreational Center in St. Cloud to play some pickleball with the Northern Paddles Pickleball Club.

The sport of pickleball was created about 50 years ago and is a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton.

Tracey Thompson, the St. Cloud Ambassador for the U.S.A. Pickleball Association, says local participation in the sport has been growing recently.

"[The sport] is growing like crazy," Thompson says. "Since we opened [the pickleball courts] at Calvary Hill Park, I've just met so many people who love to play -- it's been fun, the courts have been full."

"You'll have fun on the first day you try it, it's very easy to pick up and it's just so much fun on so many levels."

What you need to know:
WHERE: 1521 Northway Drive in St. Cloud
OPEN: Mon.-Thu. 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Fri. 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sat. 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Closed on Sunday.
COST: $2.42 to rent equipment for the day.