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Pickleball comes to Riverside Park

Conservancy opens five courts in little used section of the park at 110th Street

July 6, 2023 | 10:53 AM
in NEWS, OUTDOORS
12
Photographs by Daniel Katzive.

By Daniel Katzive

When West Side Rag interviewed Riverside Park Conservancy (RPC) President Merritt Birnbaum back in January, she was excited to announce that pickleball courts were coming to Riverside Park in the summer. Summer has now arrived, and so has pickleball.

The Conservancy has laid out five courts on the lower tier of Riverside Park at about 110th Street, right between the recently renovated Andy Kessler SkatePark and a set of basketball courts. The pickleball courts have some protection from the morning sun thanks to a canopy of mature oak trees that tower above, and can benefit as well from river breezes, though players must also contend with the steady drone of cars on the West Side Highway.

Google Maps, WSR Illustration.

The Conservancy did not formally announce the opening of the courts, but players have been quick to discover them. On Wednesday morning, West Sider Regina Brab was getting ready to hit with Louise Stocker and her son Luke, whom Brab had just met that morning on the courts. “Two weeks ago I came and I was the only person here,” says Brab. “Four days later it was packed. And the last time I was here, last week, people were waiting, and that’s fine. I mean, this has just been a great thing for the park to do.”

Regina Brab hits with Louise Stocker and her son Luke in the early shade

Brab has been playing for a year-and-a-half, but Louise and Luke Stocker are new to the sport. “We just had some lessons with friends and it’s fantastic and it’s very social,” says Louise. She and Luke had been trying to play at the CityPickle courts at Wollman Rink but had been unable to get a reservation for a court, which run between $80 and $120 depending on the time of day. They looked online and found out about the new courts in Riverside Park, which are free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. “We thought we’d take a walk and we are pleasantly surprised. These beautiful courts in the shade, ready to go.”

The Stockers and Brab had the courts to themselves Wednesday at 9:15 a.m., but by 11 a.m., four courts were in action, even as the shade began to disappear and the temperature rose. Workers were busy building fencing to the north of the courts, which Brab said would help because previously overshooting balls traveled far and had to be retrieved.

By 11 a.m. the courts are busy as the shade retreats

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States, according to USA Pickleball, citing the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report. With the growing popularity has come some perhaps predictable backlash; CNN reported in March that complaints about displacement of other activities were growing nationwide, and the New York Times ran a story just last week about noise issues. But the Riverside Park courts are occupying space that never got a lot of use. As for noise, it is hard to hear much over the hum of West Side Highway traffic passing to the west. Complaints seem unlikely.

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12 Comments
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Leonard's Mother
Leonard's Mother
1 year ago

Such a diverse group! Welcome pickles!

1
Reply
Judith Norell
Judith Norell
1 year ago

110 @ RSD is a perfect location. Are there any groups one can join in the neighborhood?

3
Reply
Will Kang
Will Kang
1 year ago
Reply to  Judith Norell

You can join the TeamReach group for Riverside Park with code: riversidepark

There is also a Slack server community at https://bit.ly/ggsl

0
Reply
A C
A C
1 year ago

I’m just happy that they didn’t have to repurpose anyone else’s space as they have in other parts of the city. Though I must say I’m going to love the contrast between the skate park patrons and the pickleballers.

4
Reply
Gloria's Daughter
Gloria's Daughter
1 year ago

And there are practice walls right next to the courts!

1
Reply
Gary
Gary
1 year ago

It’s fun, really easy and social.

0
Reply
Carmella Ombrella
Carmella Ombrella
1 year ago

“though players must also contend with the steady drone of cars on the West Side Highway.” That’s the (unintended?) funniest line of the week, considering how much noise pickleball makes. But seriously, I’m glad that aficionados will be able to enjoy their sport on courts that are far from residential areas where the constant plock-plock could drive the neighbors nuts.

6
Reply
MLT
MLT
1 year ago
Reply to  Carmella Ombrella

Carmella,
Yes.
LOL

2
Reply
Katherine
Katherine
1 year ago
Reply to  Carmella Ombrella

There was an article in the NYT a couple of days ago about the awful noise pickleball produces in residential areas. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

2
Reply
Will Kang
Will Kang
1 year ago

You can join the TeamReach group for Riverside Park with code: riversidepark

There is also a Slack server Pickleball community covering RSP at https://bit.ly/ggsl

0
Reply
Will
Will
1 year ago

Now they just need to clean up and deweed this upper section of the park.

0
Reply
Chilloutfolks
Chilloutfolks
1 year ago

Alas — what started two weeks ago as a wonderful nearby activity/space, with a great vibe, has now been taken over by persnickety scolds and self-appointed watchdogs (perhaps from the Central Park cadre). Yesterday I witnessed several fights break out — verbal, but very very tense — in the space of about an hour. What I’d hoped would be a frequent invigorating destination now feels broken. Sorry. Hope people can be more civil and friendly.

0
Reply

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