Pickleball in Highland Park, Dallas, TX: Courts, Clubs, and Where to Play

Highland Park's public courts at Prather, Fairfax and Abbott parks are outdoor and limited to Town resident permit holders and their guests, as are University Park's Williams Park courts. For indoor play, the Moody Family YMCA on Preston Road offers drop-in pickleball in its gym, and The Grove Pickleball in the Design District runs indoor, air-conditioned courts with memberships. Life Time Highland Park is a membership club with outdoor courts, lessons, leagues and open play, and members can add family. More in our Dallas pickleball guide.

The Park Cities pickleball landscape

Until recently, Highland Park players were sharing time on tennis courts with painted pickleball lines. That changed in 2025. The Town now has seven courts across the system with the new Prather Park build, and just over the line in University Park, Williams Park has six dedicated courts. Add a major commercial club nearby and the area finally has real infrastructure.

Highland Park, TX

Prather Park (new — opened August 2025)

Four fully dedicated pickleball courts on what used to be Tennis Court #1. Upgraded LED lighting, flagstone pathway, ledgestone bench seating, and a four-foot ball-stop fence with windscreens between courts. Designed so the courts can be converted back to tennis in the future if the Town ever wants to. Ribbon cutting was August 8, 2025.

Existing court system

Seven courts total across the Town of Highland Park, including pickleball striping at Fairfax Park and Abbott Park tennis courts. The Town runs open play on Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m., at Prather Park Courts C and D on the first and third Saturdays and at Fairfax Court #3 on the second and fourth. It is the easiest entry point if you are new to the local scene.

Important: Use of the Town of Highland Park tennis and pickleball courts is limited to Town of Highland Park resident permit holders and their guests. If you are not a resident, you need to be invited.

University Park, TX

Williams Park

Six pickleball courts plus a playground, open space, and small soccer-field area. Run by the City of University Park; the courts are lighted, reserved through CivicRec, and limited to University Park residents and their guests. The most family-friendly Park Cities option — easy to bring kids and rotate them between the playground and the courts.

Private clubs and commercial options

Life Time Highland Park

Dedicated outdoor pickleball courts with lessons, drills, leagues and open play at the club on North Central Expressway. Member access; family members can be added to a membership. The most structured programming in the area — useful if you want clinics and progression rather than only open play.

Lakewood Country Club and other Dallas clubs

Several Dallas country clubs adjacent to the Park Cities have added pickleball over the past few years. Member access only; check directly for current programming.

Greater Dallas backup options

If you cannot get on a Park Cities court, the City of Dallas Parks system has more than 30 park sites with dedicated or multi-use pickleball courts across the city, including Lake Highlands North Park. Our Dallas pickleball roundup is a useful starting point for the broader DFW scene.

When to play

March through May and September through November are the best windows — Dallas weather plays nicely, courts are full but not overwhelmed, and evenings stay comfortable. June through August is hot; early-morning sessions (7 to 9 a.m.) and late-evening play under lights are the move. December and January can be windy and occasionally below freezing, but Texas mostly delivers playable winter days.

What to know before you go

• Highland Park courts are permit-only for residents and their guests. Verify your access before showing up.
• Saturday open play (8 to 10 a.m., alternating between Prather Park and Fairfax Court #3) is the standing community game for residents and their guests. It is the best way for newer Park Cities players to find a regular group.
• Williams Park parking fills up fast on weekend mornings — plan to arrive early or walk over.
• Summer afternoons are brutal even on the new Prather Park surface. The LED lighting at Prather makes evening play the more comfortable option May through September.

What to bring

A wide-brim hat for summer, an electrolyte mix, a windbreaker for winter mornings, outdoor balls for the park courts (or indoor balls if you are headed indoors), and a paddle that holds up to the hard, slightly slow Texas hard-court surfaces typical of municipal builds. A balanced control paddle reads well on these courts; power-heavy paddles can feel twitchy on slower hard surfaces.

On the colder December and January Saturdays at Fairfax, a heavyweight crewneck is the layer to arrive in, wear between games and pull back on afterward. ARTI apparel, from a brand that started here in Dallas, includes the relaxed, unisex Olive Green "Let's Play" Crewneck.

Frequently Asked

Can non-residents play at Highland Park courts? No — Town of Highland Park courts are permit-only for residents and their invited guests. University Park's Williams Park courts are also limited to University Park residents and their guests, so visitors should play at City of Dallas public courts or join a club such as Life Time Highland Park.

When did Prather Park open for pickleball? Ribbon cutting was August 8, 2025. Four dedicated courts with LED lighting.

Is there indoor pickleball in the Park Cities? The public courts are all outdoor, and so are the pickleball courts at Life Time Highland Park. The Moody Family YMCA on Preston Road offers drop-in pickleball in its gym. For dedicated climate-controlled courts, The Grove Pickleball in the Dallas Design District runs ten indoor, air-conditioned courts with memberships.

What paddle works for Dallas play? A balanced control paddle handles the slightly slower Texas municipal hard courts. ARTI is headquartered in Dallas (10625 Newkirk Street, Suite 700); the Texas State paddle is a natural local pick.

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