HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Renovation to Towns County’s “Old” Recreation Center, located at 900 South Main Street in Hiawassee, has been completed, and the building now serves several functions, one of which provides indoor space for pickleball players to enjoy on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to newly-installed LED lighting, fresh coats of paint, and necessary roof repair, the worn gymnasium flooring was removed, the work of inmate labor, and new flooring was installed.

Pickleball, a sport especially popular with the baby boomer generation, combines the elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. Two-to-four players participate in single or double teams, using wooden paddles to serve a plastic ball across a court.

Outdoor pickleball courts, located west of Hiawassee city limits

According tothe USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), the rules are simple and the game is easy for players to learn, although pickleball can develop into a fast-paced, competitive sport for experienced players.

The Georgia Mountain Pickleball Tournament for CASA will be held on the weekend of Aug. 31, 2019, in Hiawassee.

The renovated recreation center will also serve as additional space for basketball games and tournaments, and an indoor batting cage for baseball players during inclement weather. Furthermore, the center functions as a meeting place for the Towns County Historical Society’s monthly presentations.