Jeff Waisner, director of Anson County Parks and Recreation, holds a paddle and ball used to play pickleball on the tennis/pickleball court in Little Park.

This summer, the county park plans to introduce locals to a game quickly growing in popularity: pickleball.

Pickleball is a relatively recent sport, invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington, by three fathers. It is a blend of tennis, racquetball and ping pong that Jeff Waisner, director of Anson County Parks and Recreation, said is appealing for all ages.

Players use paddles and plastic balls similar to wiffleballs on a court. Playing singles or doubles (two players per team), participants play to 11 points, winning by two.

Waisner said that when the county redid the tennis courts three years ago, they painted pickleball lines on the court for the day the county could introduce it locally. Lately, staff training at the park has included a couple hours of pickleball a week in order to educate the employees on how the game is played.

While people of all ages enjoy the sport, Waisner hopes to see it become particularly popular with those 50 and older. The plastic ball used in pickleball travels more slowly than tennis balls and the court is shorter than a tennis court, making it easier for seniors.

If there is enough interest, Waisner said it is his dream to have groups play play on at least Fridays at the park year-round. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to introduce for three years,” Waisner said, adding that the look on his staff members’ faces was priceless when he told them they were to play pickleball. “They’re getting pretty good, so we’ll have some heated games out here.”

When he first learned to play pickleball at Surfside Beach, South Carolina, a few years ago, Waisner couldn’t find pickleballs at Dick’s Sporting Goods and had to order them online. Now, they can be easily found in local stores as the game has increased in popularity, he said.

Next Wednesday, the park will be open for seniors 50 and older to learn pickleball for free. From 10 a.m. to noon, players will learn the game and enjoy water and snacks at a tent set up near the court. The park will provide the paddles and balls.