28 Aug Pickleball in Arizona:
Why Glendale and Peoria Are Great for an Active Lifestyle
If you’re thinking about moving to Arizona and you like staying active, I should probably warn you about something.
We have a bit of a pickleball problem.
And by problem, I mean once you start playing, it can be pretty hard to stop.
I may have learned that lesson the hard way recently when I managed to injure myself playing. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything serious, but it did make me laugh because pickleball has become such a noticeable part of life here in the Northwest Valley.
Spend some time around Glendale, Peoria, or the surrounding communities and you’ll see what I mean.
But I think there’s a bigger point here for anyone considering moving to Arizona. Where you live affects a lot more than your commute or how many bedrooms you can afford.
It can affect what your everyday life actually looks like.
Pickleball Has Become Part of the Arizona Lifestyle
One reason pickleball seems to fit Arizona so well is that we have so many opportunities to be outside.
During the cooler months especially, you’ll see people heading out early in the morning or meeting friends for a game later in the day.
And pickleball isn’t limited to one age group.
You’ll find beginners learning how to play, experienced players looking for competitive games, couples playing together, and people using it as a way to meet others in their community.
That social side is a big part of the appeal.
If you’re relocating to Arizona and don’t know many people yet, activities like pickleball can be an easy way to get involved and start meeting people.
Where Can You Play Pickleball in Glendale and Peoria?
There are a number of public options around the Northwest Valley.
In Glendale, Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center has outdoor pickleball courts available for public use. The city also offers pickleball programming at recreation facilities.
Peoria has also invested in pickleball facilities. Paloma Community Park in North Peoria includes pickleball courts along with walking trails, sports fields, playgrounds, fishing and other recreation options.
And those are only public facilities.
Depending on where you live, you may also find pickleball courts within master-planned communities, recreation centers, private clubs and active adult communities.
If pickleball is something you play regularly, that can actually become part of your home search.
Your Neighborhood Can Affect How Active You Are
This is something people don’t always think about when they’re looking at homes online.
You can find a beautiful house that checks almost every box, but what’s around it?
Can you walk or bike nearby?
How far are you from a park?
Are there hiking trails within an easy drive?
Is there a recreation center nearby?
And, yes, where are the pickleball courts?
Those questions might sound secondary when you’re comparing kitchens and floor plans, but once you’ve lived somewhere for a while, they can become pretty important.
A community that makes the things you enjoy more convenient can have a real impact on how often you actually do them.
Pickleball Isn’t the Only Way to Stay Active in the Northwest Valley
If pickleball isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to get outside around Glendale and Peoria.
Hiking is an obvious one.
The Northwest Valley gives you access to places like Thunderbird Conservation Park in Glendale and the trail systems around North Peoria. Lake Pleasant Regional Park is another option for hiking along with boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and other outdoor activities.
Golf is another big part of the lifestyle here, and there are courses throughout Glendale, Peoria and the surrounding West Valley.
You’ll also find cycling, neighborhood walking paths, community fitness centers and parks throughout the area.
That variety is one of the things people moving here sometimes don’t realize until they start exploring.
Arizona obviously gets very hot during the summer, so timing matters when you’re doing anything outdoors. But during much of the year, being outside is simply part of how a lot of people spend their free time here.
Think About Lifestyle When You’re Choosing an Arizona Community
When I’m helping someone look for a home, bedrooms, bathrooms, price and location are obviously going to matter.
But I also think it’s worth asking a different question:
What do you want your life to look like once you live here?
Maybe you want to play pickleball several mornings a week.
Maybe you’d rather be close to hiking trails.
Maybe golf is your thing.
Maybe you want easy access to Lake Pleasant because you’d rather spend your weekends on the water.
Or maybe you simply want a neighborhood where you can get outside and take a walk in the evening.
Those preferences can point you toward very different parts of the Northwest Valley.
For example, someone who wants easy access to Lake Pleasant and outdoor recreation may look closely at North Peoria. Someone else may prefer being closer to the amenities, shopping and established neighborhoods around Arrowhead Ranch.
There isn’t one community that’s right for everybody.
That’s why I think it makes more sense to start with the lifestyle you want and then look at which neighborhoods support it.
Moving to Glendale or Peoria, Arizona?
If you’re considering moving to Arizona, don’t choose your neighborhood based only on the house.
Spend some time thinking about what you’ll want to do when you’re not at home.
Glendale, Peoria and the Northwest Valley offer a lot of different options for people who enjoy an active lifestyle, whether that means pickleball, hiking, cycling, golf, time at the lake, or simply getting outside.
And if pickleball happens to be high on your list, you’ll have plenty of company.
Just take my advice and remember to stretch first.
I learned that one the hard way.
If you’re thinking about moving to Glendale, Peoria, Arrowhead Ranch, Vistancia, or anywhere in the Northwest Valley, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help you compare communities and find an area that fits the way you actually want to live.