Pickleball players have a new place to hit the courts in the Morongo Basin following the completion of the Yucca Valley Community Center Pickleball Courts Project. Supervisor Dawn Rowe joined Yucca Valley Mayor Merl Abel, members of the Town Council and an enthusiastic crowd of local residents for a ribbon cutting celebrating the new recreational facility.
The project was made possible through a partnership between San Bernardino County and the Town of Yucca Valley, with Supervisor Rowe securing $1.6 million in County funding for the design, engineering and construction of the pickleball complex. The investment was intended to help meet growing demand for outdoor recreational opportunities in Yucca Valley and throughout the Morongo Basin.
That demand mirrors an extraordinary nationwide surge in the sport. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, compared with just 4.2 million in 2020 — an increase of 479 percent in five years. Pickleball has now ranked as the fastest-growing sport in the United States for five consecutive years.
The sport’s popularity has also been evident throughout the Third District, where residents of all ages are looking for more opportunities to play. The new Yucca Valley courts provide another dedicated space for residents to get outside, stay active and enjoy a sport that continues to bring new players together.