Pickleball Players on Staten Island Face Court Shortage and Run-Ins with Law Enforcement

Are you a pickleball enthusiast living in Staten Island? If so, you’re not alone in feeling the frustration of not having enough courts to play on in the borough. The popularity of pickleball has exploded in recent years, but the lack of available courts has led to some unexpected run-ins with law enforcement.

Just recently, a pickleball player was issued a summons by NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol officers after players took over tennis courts at Fairview Park in Charleston for pickleball use. The issue stems from the fact that there simply aren’t enough designated pickleball courts on Staten Island to accommodate the growing number of players.

Staten Island Pickleball, boasting 900 members, often faces long wait times to play on one of the three pickleball courts at Fairview. According to member Erik Lombardo, there is a pressing need for more courts to be built to meet the demand. The social aspect of pickleball is a huge draw for many players, and having more courts available would allow for larger community events and gatherings.

While there are currently four pickleball courts at Skyline Playground in New Brighton, the need for additional courts is evident. NYC Parks has acknowledged the issue and is working on a capital project at the Greenbelt Recreation Center in Sea View to reconstruct basketball courts for pickleball play. The department has also stated that they will continue to explore opportunities to add more pickleball courts on Staten Island where possible.

This isn’t the first time that pickleball players have faced challenges at Fairview Park. Parking has been a contentious issue, with players and parkgoers struggling to find adequate parking spaces due to the limited availability at the park’s 60-spot lot. The neighboring Bricktown Centre shopping plaza has also been a source of conflict, as parkers have been denied access to their parking lot.

In the meantime, Staten Island pickleball players will have to make do with the limited court space available to them. But with the growing popularity of the sport, it’s clear that more courts are needed to meet the demand and ensure that players can enjoy their favorite pastime without the fear of fines or conflicts with law enforcement. Let’s hope that more pickleball courts will be built in the near future to accommodate the thriving pickleball community on Staten Island.