FiftyForward opens Donelson pickleball court as community asset

Donelson gained a new place to play pickleball on Wednesday as FiftyForward opened a court beside Donelson Station and made it clear the space is meant to serve the broader neighborhood, not just its members. Non-members can use the court for a $10 registration fee, and the organization plans to add lights soon so evening play becomes an option.

Lisa Maddox said the court came together through a $50,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. FiftyForward’s spring newsletter said the project was expected to open in April, with the concrete foundation already finished before crews completed the playing surface and surrounding features. The site also includes a gathering area with picnic tables, a detail that pushes the project beyond a simple strip of court space and into the role of a social stop for daily use.

The new court fits squarely into FiftyForward’s larger mission. The organization serves adults 50 and older in Middle Tennessee and says it aims to help them live longer, more fulfilling lives through programs and services that stay active, practical and accessible. At Donelson Station, that already includes low-impact aerobics, yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, strength training, cards, games and bingo. Pickleball now joins that mix at 108 Donelson Pike, where the center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Programming is already lined up to build momentum. The Donelson Station May 2026 calendar lists beginner pickleball classes on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 9 a.m., taught by Debbie Trombley and Marsha Smith for $5 per person. The calendar also notes that May is Older Americans Month and uses the national theme Champion Your Health, a fitting match for a court designed to bring in both first-timers and regulars who want a low-barrier way to stay on the move.

The timing matters in a sport that the newsletter describes as the fastest-growing in the United States. Nashville already has a larger pickleball footprint at Centennial Sportsplex, which offers 12 lined courts available for reservation during operating hours, but Donelson’s new court adds something different: a neighborhood-scale entry point where players can walk in, pay a small fee if needed and start playing close to home. In a corridor shaped by long-range planning under the Donelson/Hermitage/Old Hickory Community Plan and by redevelopment pressures such as the former Donelson Bowl site turning into a 154-unit development, the new court gives the area one more public-facing place built for everyday use.