Charlotte County
residents relish pickleball
HERALD PHOTO BY CHUCK BALLARO
Fran Robbins of Port Charlotte plays pickleball at the South County Regional Park gym. The gym plays host to pickleball several times a week.
HERALD PHOTO BY CHUCK BALLARO
Frances Gammie of Punta Gorda cheers the players on during a pickleball game at the South County Regional Park gym. Gammie has become the leading advocate of pickleball in the area and has been instrumental in the game’s popularity locally.
HERALD PHOTO BY CHUCK BALLARO
Leslie Ferkovich of North Port celebrates victory during a pickleball game at the South County Regional Park gym.
HERALD PHOTO BY CHUCK BALLARO
John Alexander of North Fort Myers gets ready to serve during a pickleball game at the South County Regional Park gym.
By CHUCK BALLARO
Sports Writer
When South County Regional Park recreation director Lacey Miranda introduced pickleball nearly three years ago, even she couldn’t predict how wildly popular it would become.
But the game, which in the beginning had only one court and barely enough people to play doubles, has grown to fill the entire gymnasium complex most days of the week, to become among the park’s most popular activities.
