Have Paddle, Will Travel for Pickleball in NYC
Name a more iconic spot to play pickleball than Central Park, we’ll wait.
Pickleball has been that girl for a while now. And with more than 36.5 million pickleball players and close to 14,000 places to play pickleball currently in the US, it’s clear the game’s grip over the masses is nowhere near teetering off.
Naturally, this unwavering trend meant New York City had no choice but to come up with the most iconic location in the country for pickleball enthusiasts to play at: Central Park.
From May 1 through early fall, the legendary landmark’s Wollman Rink will transform into 14 eye-catching, blue pickleball courts for the sport that mixes elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Hour-long reservations can be made for up to eight players, start at $10 per person, and are available seven days a week from 8 am–9 pm. CityPickle, New York City’s official pickleball club, will also be offering $6 paddle rentals for those who left theirs back home or haven’t committed to purchasing a personal kit. To keep your strength up under the sun, snacks and drinks are also available for purchase.
For all the newbies out there, each game of pickleball spans around 10 to 15 minutes, so every rental period affords plenty of time for working on form and getting the competitive energies flowing. And if the shiny new courts inspire you to improve your game, picklers can also sign up for lessons, clinics, leagues, and tournaments run by CityPickle.
CityPickle and Wollman Park Partners (Equinox, Related, HB Sports & Entertainment) are also behind community-driven programming with organizations like the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Health Advocates for Older People, City Parks Foundation, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America to provide discounted play and free paddle rentals.
CityPickle at Wollman Rink opens on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 am in Central Park. Reservations can be made on the website.