From 2023
Back in August, we staked out a shady spot beside the Cole Park pickleball courts to capture players in their natural habitat. At first they were shy. Then we offered refreshments. Staff photographer Elizabeth Lavin captured the magic. We asked them why they played pickleball. We also traced how Dallas became the center of the game’s universe and highlighted the best places to play.
And now, meet the few dozen folks who packed the courts on a summer day in Uptown.
The Pickleballers
Alex Fabry
33, private equity
“My brother-in-law is a pro player on the tour, AJ Koller. So I got into pickleball about a year ago, and now I’m obsessed as well.”
Ally Smith
23, marketing
Armando DeAnda
33, car dealership owner
Ben Simpson
28, marketing
Bethany and Kelvin Skaggs
27, real estate agent; 58, retired
“My daughters started playing it,” Kelvin says. “I used to play racquetball, and you tear up your knees. Pickleball is a lot easier to play.”
Jordon Finch
32, account manager
“I used to play basketball, but this has substituted for it. It has more of a community feel, and I am less likely to get injured.”
Jordyn Harrison
6, first-time pickleballer
Jordyn Harrison and Shavonne Johnson
6, first-time pickleballer; 25, traveling nurse
Lara Burns
52, retired FBI agent
“It’s a good way to get out and do something active that doesn’t involve drinking or being in a pool or partying.”
Sukul Mittal
23, medical student
“It’s a good workout, it’s outdoors, but it’s also less stressful than something like tennis.”
Sukul Mittal and Ishav Shukla
23, medical student; 23, medical student, president of the UTSW tennis and pickleball clubs
“People play here every day, every night,” Shukla says, “so it’s a lot of fun to come here, especially for us, whenever we have a little bit of time.”
Takeya Oliver
27, fifth-grade teacher
“I want to learn all of the rules so I can just use it as my new hobby.”
Evann Crawford
34, VP of business development
Ben Fong
37, consultant
“I was a rower, so I liked doing that. But I can’t really do that in Dallas, so this is another activity I can do.”
Jacob Preston
46, CPA
“Normally on a Saturday I’d be out drinking, spending money. Instead, I can play for free and get good exercise. I think that’s a good trade-off.”
Michael Prettyman
36, consultant
Joy Roberts
64, retired
“I’ve been playing for two months. What I love about here—people that are even really good will play with you. They teach you things, so it’s very egalitarian.”
Corban Smith
23, Frito-Lay sales
Stephanie Akenga
29, dental lab technician
“I used to play tennis, and it is just a really easy transition. I like playing up at net, so it’s perfect for me.”
Sahil Ali
29, accountant
“Stephanie and I used to play on the same tennis team in high school. My wife and I live down the street. We just started playing because we saw so many people out here.”
Mia Traylor
25, sales
“I’m horrible at tennis and I’m decent at pickleball, so I can be competitive and play with my friends.”
Angelo Ramirez
33, healthcare recruiter
