The pic-pock of pickleballs echoed across the courts of Roadside Park on Saturday, April 26 as the Hastings Pickleball Association hosted its first annual “dink off.” The event consisted of beginner lessons, a round robin tournament and marshmallow roasting.
The Dink Off showcased the inter-generational appeal of the sport, attracting players from high schoolers to seniors. Such a wide swath of players is an important part of the sport for Hastings Pickleball Association Treasurer Jane Scully who noted that younger players don’t always expect the fierce competition coming from their older peers: “The high schoolers like playing with us. They’re often surprised.”
Even outside of the event, Scully noted that the courts’ “demographics shift through the day,” with Hastings’ older residents playing early in the morning, with younger players arriving later throughout the day.
The pickleball courts at Roadside Park teemed with players, rotating between them for the round robin tournament. The tennis courts alongside them stood empty throughout the day. It was a stark contrast noted by Hastings Pickleball Association member-at-large John Ahren: “Anytime the city wants to expand, that’s fine with us.”
Competition between the city’s tennis players and the increasing tide of pickleball players who want more courts has grown in recent years. In 2014 when the Hastings Pickleball Association began, few courts existed in town.
The sport grew in popularity in the ensuing decade when in 2024 several Roadside courts were permanently changed into pickleball courts in a project coordinated with Hastings Parks and Recreation. Those same courts will be receiving a facelift for the summer, with the Hastings Pickleball Association adding picnic tables, umbrellas and more seating.