Chicago Suburb Sets 'Unofficial World Record' for Largest Pickleball Lesson

Lifelong youth sports advocate Mark Miller drew 484 kids to courts outside of Chicago – all for the love of the game, and totally free of charge.

Mark Miller has been teaching kids to play tennis in the Chicago area for nearly 20 years. More recently, he's added pickleball to his playbook.

And this year, he decided to spread the word in grand fashion.

A reported 484 kids ages 5 through 13 participated in a pickleball lesson led by Miller Monday at the Danny Cunniff Park pickleball complex in Highland Park, Illinois, located about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago.

The event was a joint project between Mark Miller's Munchkin Programs for youth sports education, the Park District of Highland Park, and MLP's Chicago Slice.

"I made a living teaching tennis to little kids," Miller told ABC 7 Chicago. "I think pickleball's a lot easier to learn."

It’s being lauded as an “unofficial world record” — besting Miller’s previous mark of 300 participants in Arizona in 2023.

Members of the Chicago Slice organization were on-hand to support the event, providing nearly 100 paddles to help make it all happen.

"Supporting initiatives that get kids on the court, learning the game, and building confidence through sport is a key part of our mission to elevate pickleball," said Maddie Moeke, COO of the Chicago Slice. "We’re proud to help grow the next generation of players right here in the Chicago area.”

The brainchild of lifelong youth advocate Miller, Munchkin Programs:

The Danny Cunniff Pickleball Complex includes six dedicated courts and will play host to the 2025 APP Chicago Open pickleball tournament from August 27-31.