Pickleball is gaining momentum in Passaic County, with the city of Passaic soon to become the eighth of the county's 16 municipalities to provide courts for the fast-growing sport.

The move comes a few weeks after Clifton approved 12 dedicated courts that will augment its 16 hybrid courts, which can be used for either tennis or pickleball.

"North Jersey is finally coming around," said Clifton's Michael Miller, an avid pickleball player who persuaded Clifton to build pickleball-only courts. "They are late to the party compared to the rest of the country."

Before Clifton, only Little Falls had dedicated outdoor courts. Little Falls also has one of the few outdoor courts with lights. West Milford has indoor courts, Miller said. 

The majority of courts in Passaic County are hybrid, meaning they're tennis courts with pickleball lines added. A pickleball court is about half the size of a tennis court, and the nets are a bit lower. The game plays like a cross between pingpong and tennis. 

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Pickleball was invented in the mid-1960s and was popular largely in retirement communities until recent years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association calls it the fastest-growing sport. 

The Passaic tennis courts were due for renovation because they were damaged by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida last year. 

"Ida destroyed the courts to the point where the fencing was completely bent and the surface was lifted and swept down to Main Avenue," Mayor Hector Lora said. 

It seemed logical to add pickleball lines when the courts are resurfaced. The hybrid courts will be at the Howard Avenue Tennis Courts in Third Ward Memorial Park. 

The City Council's decision to allocate $239,000 for repairs and resurfacing was an easy one, since the city's insurance will cover much of the cost and FEMA funds the rest. 

When the work is complete, there will be three courts: two hybrid courts and one to be used for volleyball. 

Matt Fagan is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.