WATSONVILLE >> Those who have recently visited the tennis courts at Callaghan Park may have noticed some changes. They now have large squares with little boxes within them distinguished by different shades of blue, almost like a series of four square courts within a much larger court.

This is all done to accommodate the rapidly growing sport of pickleball, which the city of Watsonville will be celebrating — along with a repaving of the basketball courts — with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday.

The roots of pickleball date back to 1965 when future Washington Lt. Gov. and Rep. Joel Pritchard created it at his Bainbridge Island summer home, and it has been considered the fastest-growing sport in America in recent years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reported that pickleball saw a growth of 51.8% between 2022 and 2023. In 2024 alone, more than 18,000 new pickleball courts were dedicated, according to the sport’s national governing body, USA Pickleball.

Naturally, that growth has spread to Santa Cruz County, where the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club has hosted weekly matches at Brommer Street, Willowbrook and Sergeant Derby parks as well as clinics at Cabrillo College, which also offers pickleball courses in its kinesiology department.

Pickleball is a similar sport to tennis, except the balls are plastic and perforated, paddles are used in place of rackets, the balls are served underhand and the courts are usually smaller. This has resulted in restriping of courts to allow for both tennis and pickleball to be played, which is precisely the case for the new court at Callaghan Park where a pickleball program is being piloted.

Watsonville Parks and Community Services is offering beginner and intermediate as well as private lessons at Callaghan and the city’s other pickleball court at Joyce-McKenzie Park.

The city is also in the early stages of this summer’s adult pickleball league, which began June 9 and will meet Mondays.

The ceremony will also highlight Callaghan Park’s refurbished basketball courts, which Mayor Maria Orozco wrote in a recent Sentinel column will include resurfaced courts and new backboards. The court upgrades were funded through Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services.

“These upgrades demonstrate how public-private partnerships can enrich our shared spaces and promote healthier, more active lifestyles for all,” Orozco wrote.

In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will also be a beginner pickleball tutorial and three-on-three basketball tournament, which players must pre-register for at Watsonvillerec.com.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 21 at Callaghan Park, 221 Sudden St., Watsonville.