HIGHLAND PARK (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A tournament for pickleball, the largest growing sport in the U.S., is coming back to Highland Park over Labor Day weekend.
The APP Chicago Open will run August 31 through September 4 at Danny Cunniff Park.
The founder of the Association of Pickleball Professionals is Libertyville native Ken Herrmann. He said even if you don't know the names of top players such as Zane Navratil and JW Johnson, pickleball has wide appeal.
"It is a family sport that everyone can get out and play. And, unlike tennis, which can take years to get good at, the learning curve is very simple, it's very easy, and players progress rapidly," Herrmann said.
The tour, which was in Highland Park last year and Naperville in 2018 and 2019, is expected to attract 600 professionals and amateurs. Registration runs through August 20.
He said they're looking for volunteers to help run the 5-day event, including additional security patrols.
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