Kansas City Suburb Unveils New Outdoor Pickleball Facility

Five years ago, Stilwell, Kansas resident Malcolm Haney was first introduced to the sport of pickleball by USAPA President Jack Thomas, a lifelong friend. After a few games, Malcolm was hooked and is now a USAPA Ambassador.

When Malcolm first picked up a paddle, there were no dedicated outdoor pickleball courts in Johnson County, a prosperous and progressive suburban area of the Kansas City metroplex. “I knew the Director of Golf for the Johnson County Parks and Recreation department and started bugging him about pickleball,” recalled Malcolm.  “A short time later, the parks and rec department of Johnson County was deeded 60+ acres for a park that was part of a golf country club that was being developed for housing.  The park is in a prime location that is centrally located for both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the city.”

An Open House was hosted by the Parks and Rec department and Malcolm along with a few of his pickleball friends held a pickleball demonstration on a golf course cart path. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I am happy to say that the eight brand new pickleball courts at Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, Kansas opened on June 22 and several volunteers and myself played a few games on the beautiful new courts.  No other facility in the area has this many courts and we can now host many special events and tournaments in the future.”