New York City Pickleball Boom: Pickleball continues to grow in New York City, with new courts opening across the five boroughs. CityPickle just announced a major project: a 37,000-square-foot flagship facility and company headquarters in Times Square’s Paramount Building at 1501 Broadway. The new site will include seven courts and a lounge with food and drinks.
This announcement follows CityPickle’s growing presence in New York. Since 2023, the company has built or announced at least 32 courts citywide. These include a three-year deal to operate 14 courts at Wollman Rink in Central Park after a successful trial run.
More Courts and Bigger Plans
CityPickle is also planning to open an even larger facility at Anchorage Plaza in Dumbo. That space will be 60,000 square feet with 11 courts, food trucks, and community programs. The Dumbo site is under a three-year agreement with the New York City Parks Department.
“We’re just getting started,” CityPickle stated in March.
Other businesses are joining the trend. In June, Red Hook Pickleball Club opened five pro cushioned courts on Van Brunt Street. One local player wrote, “They’re phenomenal.”
Nearby in Red Hook, Velto Pickleball Club is launching in a 14,000-square-foot location above a Tesla showroom. It will offer four full courts, a half court, and a smoothie bar. Velto calls itself the city’s “Premier Luxury Pickleball Club,” though it’s still early in development.
Real Estate Projects Add Pickleball
Developers are including pickleball courts in new buildings. A Long Island City high-rise with 560 condos and rentals will offer courts as an amenity. A large mixed-use development in Mott Haven is also expected to include courts.
In Manhattan, courts are being added to upscale housing like The Henry on the Upper West Side and the Kips Bay Towers. Most of these courts are indoors, which helps reduce noise complaints from neighbors.
Community Tensions and Change
Not everyone is thrilled with the rapid rise of pickleball. At Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center, a recent renovation added courts but ended a long-running roller disco event. Some regulars were upset, though the Prospect Park Alliance said it would still host other roller skating programs.
A Growing Sport’s Surprising Reach
The explosion of pickleball courts in New York shows no signs of slowing. What started as a backyard game in Bainbridge Island decades ago is now shaping real estate and public spaces in the city.
News in Brief: New York City Pickleball Boom
CityPickle is opening a new flagship facility in Times Square as pickleball continues to expand across New York. Other venues like Velto and Red Hook Pickleball Club are also adding courts. Real estate projects now include pickleball spaces, showing how deeply the sport has taken root in city life.
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