ENMU opening new pickleball courts

If you're a pickleball player there's a new place on the Eastern New Mexico University campus where you can "get your game on."

The grand opening of the new pickleball courts at ENMU is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce.

The pickleball courts, located at the ENMU Vetville Recreation Area, were created this spring when two old ENMU tennis courts were renovated into eight pickleball courts, allowing up to 32 players at a time. The new courts are open to people of all ages, according to a news release from ENMU's assistant vice president of marketing and communications John Houser.

According to Houser, the eight new courts were paid for through "generous" donations from long-time Portales community members and ENMU supporters Max and June Merrick and Scott and Jane Christensen.

"We greatly appreciate the generosity of Max, June, Scott, and Jane to make this happen. It is truly a recreational gift to the campus and community," ENMU President James Johnston said in the news release.

According to Houser, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with 36.5 million players in the country as of January 2023.

"It combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and can be played as doubles or singles, enjoyed by all ages and skill levels," Houser wrote.