Jefferson Parish has launched a brand-new pickleball venue at the Mike Miley Playground in Metairie, investing $2 million into what officials describe as the region’s most expansive public facility dedicated to the fast-growing sport.
Positioned behind the Ree Alario Multi-Purpose Center at 500 Pickleball Court, the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department Pickleball Complex includes nine shaded courts, spectator seating, player benches, and a parking area with space for 17 vehicles.
To manage court usage efficiently, the facility introduces a “bucket rotation” system on eight of the courts. Enthusiasts, often referred to as “picklers,” sort their paddles into color-coded buckets based on skill tier: intermediate, advanced intermediate, or advanced. When four paddles accumulate in a bucket, those players rotate in for a match.
Participants wait for their turn as buckets cycle to the front of the queue. Once a spot opens up, players enter for one game. Meanwhile, a central court follows a challenge-based format — where victorious teams remain on the court until defeated by challengers.
Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said the bucket model was designed to minimize wait times and foster inclusiveness.
“Even someone completely new to the sport can jump into a match,” said Lee Sheng. “Anyone who walks in has a fair shot at playing.”
Lee Sheng also enlisted a group of volunteer “pickleball ambassadors” — locals who regularly play on Jefferson Parish courts — to help ease the public into the new system.
“I’ve probably crossed paths with more than 600 people through pickleball. It’s fantastic,” said Johnny Johnson, one such ambassador, during a soft launch event held last week.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the complex welcomes players aged 12 and older. In addition, the recreation department announced that four more outdoor pickleball courts — converted from tennis facilities at the same park — will soon be open for reservations.
Funding for the project included $1.2 million from a recently renewed 9.71-mill recreational tax, with an additional $800,000 drawn from discretionary funds controlled by Councilman Deano Bonano.
Pickleball — a hybrid sport that blends aspects of table tennis and badminton — is played in doubles, with teams hitting a perforated plastic ball over a net using paddles until one side fails to return the ball following a bounce.
The sport’s popularity has surged nationwide. In fact, more than 18,000 new courts were constructed across the U.S. last year alone, accounting for over a quarter of all existing courts, according to data from Pickleball USA.
In the Greater New Orleans area, former Saints quarterback Drew Brees launched Pickle N Pins, an indoor pickleball and entertainment venue in Metairie, last October. Meanwhile, Tulane University announced plans to transform part of its University Square parking lot into a sports complex featuring four pickleball and six tennis courts.
The rise of pickleball also supports Jefferson Parish’s broader initiative to revamp recreational programs, particularly in areas with declining youth populations. Many once-underused tennis courts at parish playgrounds are now being adapted to meet the swelling interest in pickleball.
