Clinics round out seasonal pickleball play in McCandless

Pickleball at Devlin Park in McCandless is keeping the courts busy with upcoming clinics and a few more weeks left to play.

All parks in McCandless are closed from Nov. 1 until April 1. Four pickleball courts at Devlin Park were opened in spring 2023 and they’re always hopping.

‘They have been busy all season,” said Abby Lucostic, parks and recreation director for McCandless.

Jack Demos of Fox Chapel was playing Oct 3 with three other people.

“It’s a great facility. Courts are very, very nice, and the play is great,” he said.

For those who want to get in a few lessons as the season winds down, the town will hold two final days of clinics, with both a Level 1 Intro and a Level 2 Intro clinic. The latter is a good option for those who have taken the introduction clinic from instructor Dana Kantz and want to continue to build on those skills, Lucostic said.

New players can learn Round Robin, with two sessions for beginners only, at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 and 27. Registration is required. Cost is $5 for residents and $10 for nonresidents.

Pickleball clinics will be held Oct. 13 and 26 at Devlin Park. Level 1 is from 10 a.m. to noon, and costs $15 for residents and $20 and nonresidents. Level 2 is from noon to 2 p.m., $20 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.

Level 2 players must have taken the Level 1 clinic.

Early this year, the town implemented an online registration system for residents to reserve and rent pickleball courts.

Kantz, who is director of pickleball at Pure Athletex in Marshall, has more than five years experience as a pickleball program coordinator, organizing and running social mixers, round robins, leagues, mini-tournaments and team-building events, according to her Pure Athletex biography. She also became an ambassador for the U.S. Amateur Pickleball Association in 2018.

“We’re lucky to have her in McCandless,” Lucostic said.

McCandless also resurfaced the basketball court and two tennis courts at Devlin Park. They were reopened to the public in the spring of 2023.

Register at www.townofmccandless.org.