Lower Township Adds 5 New Pickleball Courts

Lower Township in Cape May County is expanding its pickleball footprint with five new outdoor courts, bringing the total to seven regulation courts in the township.

Township Manager Mike Laffey confirmed with the Cape May County Herald that the township has already built two pickleball courts in the Diamond Beach section. Tennis courts at Mitnick Park on Jonathan Hoffman Road and at the Freeman Douglas Sports Complex on Route 9 are also lined for pickleball.

The five new courts dedicated to pickleball are being built between the Township Hall complex and the Lower Township Senior Center. Laffey expected the courts to be finished by early winter. 

“We still have some fine-tuning to do, but we are right there. We just painted recently. We removed some of the debris and trees from the site; it'll be ready within the next couple of weeks,” Laffey stated to the Cape May County Herald.

According to the Cape May County Herald, pickleball has gained an increased following in the township. The Recreation Department offers “open play” pickleball on three days, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon. All pickleball players must be Lower Township residents and hold an active membership in the recreation center, according to the township's website. Residents may bring one nonresident guest per visit.

Laffey noted that the courts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, organized play, such as tournaments, will likely be scheduled from time to time.