LINCOLN, Neb. — On a windy afternoon at Eden Park, the rhythmic pop of a paddle meeting a plastic ball echoes louder than the gusts. Once a curious sound to most, it’s now instantly recognizable — the soundtrack of pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
What began as a casual activity has exploded into a full-blown movement in Lincoln, driven in large part by Pickleball Lincoln, a volunteer-run nonprofit helping to transform city parks and build a thriving, all-ages community.
This weekend, Pickleball Lincoln hosted a multi-park, four-person team tournament modeled after Major League Pickleball. The event attracted players from across the Midwest and South, including Kansas City, Omaha, Grand Island, Sioux City, and even Dallas…