Pickleball comes to Carol Stream’s Armstrong Park

Carol Stream celebrated its first outdoor pickleball courts with a grand opening on June 5 at Armstrong Park.

About 200 people attended the event, Carol Stream Park District Executive Director Sue Rini said, including state Sen. Seth Lewis.

The project to transform the former inline skating rink into a facility hosting six courts cost roughly $155,600, partially offset by a state grant of $50,000.

“We’re super-excited. It looks incredible,” Rini said of the pickleball courts.

She said the playing surface, installed by Sport Court Midwest of Elmhurst, is forgiving to the joints of the players, reduces the chance of abrasion, softens the sound of the ball hitting the ground, and helps “shedding water” after rain.

The courts, with parking in the south lot at Armstrong Park, 391 Illini Drive, are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Court lights will be on until 9 p.m.

The courts are available for open play or by paid reservation through the park district.

“Most people put their rackets up and wait their turn,” Rini said.

There will be lessons and tournaments with the first tournament on Saturday, June 15.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. With up to 13.6 million players nationally in 2023, the sport has grown by 223.5% since 2020, the association said.

Rini said if additional grant funding became available, the park district might consider relocating an existing basketball court at the 73-acre Armstrong Park and adding two more pickleball courts.

A single pickleball court will have a grand opening on June 24 at the smaller Walter Park, 970 High Ridge Pass, as part of a project to renovate the 6-acre park that includes an accessible, new playground.

Another improvement at Armstrong Park comes courtesy of the village of Carol Stream’s Klein Creek Stream Bank Stabilization project.

Soil removed as part of that project has been added to the park’s existing sledding hill, making it several times its current height while saving money on material.

“It makes sense to share resources,” said Pam Falco, the park district’s community relations specialist.

“We definitely made their sledding hill bigger,” said village engineer Bill Cleveland.

The park district and the Carol Stream Parks Foundation are also gearing up for the annual Duck Race on June 22 at Coral Cove Water Park, 849 W. Lies Road.

Held since 2015, the event raises money for need-based scholarships for people to participate in park district programs and activities.

The parks foundation’s largest fundraiser, the Duck Race has raised $23,000 toward its scholarship program since its inception, Falco said.

Last year, 1,026 ducks went down the slide at Coral Cove. The event has attracted up to 700 people, Falco said.

The Duck Race is open to the public and also will be livestreamed on the foundation’s Facebook page. People may pay to “adopt” one or more ducks at the park district and the foundation websites.

“It’s a lot of fun, and all the kids line up sitting along the pool, watching and cheering,” Falco said.