Bradenton's pickleball scene runs through one park. The C.V. Walton Racquet Center at G.T. Bray Park has 20 courts, 14 of them covered with ceiling fans, and Pickleball Magazine named it a top 25 place to play in America. Around it, Lakewood Ranch adds 6 free park courts and two big indoor clubs, and the beach towns on Anna Maria Island have their own courts. Here is where to play across Manatee County.
Court counts come straight from the official city and county parks pages. Where a page confirms courts but not a number, we say so instead of guessing.
20 courts at 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, 14 covered with ceiling fans and 6 open air. Open play runs mornings by skill level, afternoons for all levels, and weeknights until 9 p.m. Free for recreation members, $5 per person drop in for non members.
6 free courts and a practice wall at 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd with shaded seating. No lights, so hours are sunrise to sunset. Enter through the Lakewood Ranch High School entrance.
2 shaded courts on the south side of the park at 7510 Prospect Rd. Free, with lights on for evening play until 9 p.m.
City park at 1801 17th Ave W with tennis and pickleball courts under heavy tree cover, one of the shadiest parks in the city. The city page does not list a court count.
City of Palmetto courts at 1107 14th Ave W next to the Armory. The city lists the location but not a court count.
Indoor club at 500 Tallevast Road with 12 courts, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Daily open play is $10 for members and $20 for visitors, memberships from $59 a month.
Private indoor club at 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd with 8 climate controlled courts, a pro shop, cafe, and recovery room. Memberships and schedules run through Court Reserve.
Community center at 407 Magnolia Ave with pickleball in the gym on a monthly schedule plus outdoor courts. Non members pay $25 for a day pass or $65 for a pickleball only month pass.
Member run club since 2018 that organizes DUPR leagues, clinics, and social events. It does not own courts, so players arrange court time on their own.
See the statewide lists: all Florida public courts and all Florida clubs. Know a court we missed? Suggest it here.
With 20 courts, 14 of them covered, and open play sorted by skill level, G.T. Bray is where most Bradenton players end up. Bring $5 if you are not a recreation member.
The six courts there have no lights and close at sunset, so plan morning or late afternoon sessions.
The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch and Dill Dinkers SRQ both have air conditioned courts, and Dill Dinkers offers pay per session open play for visitors.
The Center of Anna Maria Island runs gym pickleball on a schedule that changes by month, so check it before you drive out to the beach.
The biggest public spot is G.T. Bray Park with 20 courts, and Lakewood Ranch Park has 6 more. The city also has courts at 17th Avenue West Park, and Governor Ron DeSantis Park has 2 lighted courts near University Parkway.
Drop in open play is free for recreation members and $5 per person for non members. Outdoor courts can be reserved six days in advance by phone.
Yes. The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch has 8 indoor courts, Dill Dinkers SRQ has 12 indoor courts near the airport, and G.T. Bray has 14 covered courts with ceiling fans.
The Center of Anna Maria Island offers gym pickleball on a monthly schedule plus outdoor courts, with day passes for non members.
Free video lessons from the Universal Rackets coaching team, plus a beginner's guide that gets you rally-ready in one afternoon.
We bring professional pickleball clinics and events to 55+ communities, HOAs, and parks. Residents pay to play, so it usually costs your community nothing.