Columbus debuts eight free pickleball courts near downtown COSI

Eight free pickleball courts opened at The Peninsula on June 22, putting the sport in plain sight at 344 W. Town St., across from COSI and next to One at the Peninsula. The courts are open daily for all to use.

Downtown Columbus says players should use a paddle-rack rotation system when all eight courts are full, a setup that points to steady open play rather than a locked-down private setup. Posted rules prohibit food, glass, smoking, bicycles, roller blades and skateboards on the courts.

The site sits in the Scioto Peninsula redevelopment area, and local reporting in January described the project as a temporary use on a vacant lot long eyed for future development at the northwest corner of Town and Belle streets. That makes the new court bank more than a one-off amenity. It gives a high-visibility public use to a parcel that is still part of an evolving downtown riverfront district.

Columbus is already treating pickleball like a citywide fixture. Columbus Recreation and Parks says it now manages 118 pickleball courts at 35 locations, with 60 indoor courts and 58 outdoor courts, a footprint that keeps the game available year-round. Downtown Columbus also listed the courts as one of its 2026 community-focused initiatives, alongside a weekly farmers market and a public art installation.

The downtown placement matters because it lowers the barrier to entry for casual players and gives more regular players another public stop near a major attraction. With eight courts, open daily access and a location tied directly to the Peninsula and COSI corridor, Columbus has put pickleball into the middle of a development zone that is being built out as public space, not tucked away as a niche recreation add-on.