REGIONAL matters
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
By Laura Gainor
As you ’ ve heard in the news over the last month , pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation for the second year in a row , having more than 4.8 million players . With the increase in pickleball fanatics also comes the demand for more courts and play time .
One historic park , Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City , didn ’ t hesitate when loyal patrons made a request to build permanent pickleball courts to keep up with the demand of the 400 + pickleball player community , who had inspired the court development by creating their own taped court at Squibb Park , an area above Brooklyn Bridge Park .
Brooklyn Bridge Park has a unique history since most of the park sits on piers that were a part of New York City ’ s working waterfront . In the 1980s the cargo operations stopped , and the piers sat unutilized for decades .
In 2002 city officials agreed to put funding toward creating the park , which comprises 85 acres stretching 1.3 miles along the East River , bringing the most remarkable views of New York City that will soon be enjoyed by the pickleball community using three new courts being constructed at Pier 2 of the park .
Ira Katz , who lives in a condo overlooking Squibb Park during the spring and summer months of the year , would look out his window to see a group of people playing on the open asphalt area and quickly grab his paddle to join them . “ Eight months ago , our ‘ Brooklyn team ’ pickleball group was made up of 80 people who played together at Brooklyn Bridge Park in an unused bocce area on Pier 2 of the park ,” he said . “ Today there are more than 400 people in the group ; it has organically grown by 400 % in less than a year .”
“ The timing was serendipitous . Right when we were thinking about how we can reuse the bocce area ,” recalled Eric Landau , president of Brooklyn Bridge Park , “ we heard from some local community residents about the never-ending craze of pickleball . Pickleball can be played by all ages . You don ’ t need a lot of equipment and experience to have a great time .”
The fun , social and community-driven characteristics of pickleball fit perfectly with the park ’ s mission of providing a space that gives opportunities to everyone .
Landau continued , “ It doesn ’ t matter how much money you have , ethnicity … everyone is equal in a public park and that is the core of everything we do .”
Now , area pickleball enthusiasts will get to welcome three pickleball courts for open play on Pier 2 of this park where more than 5 million people visit during the summer months to experience all it has to offer : recreational sports , an environmental education center , summer camps , public arts , gardens , a carousel , and so much more .
For more information about the park and when the pickleball courts are ready for open play , visit
brooklynbridgepark . org . •