Pickleball is a sixty-year-old sport. Joel Pritchard, looking for something his kids and their friends could play together, combined elements of badminton, ping-pong, and tennis to create pickleball. In real-time, pickleball is like what miniature golf is to the real thing. It has a lot of charm, and almost anyone can play it.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The sport keeps coming up in conversations around the Island, and State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright champions it.
Right now, there are no courts on Roosevelt Island, but RIOC promises converting remote basketball courts behind Sportspark. And the Octagon tennis courts, some of them, are in play. Even Hudson-Related got in on the act, ruminating about courts in the expanded Riverwalk Commons.
But Wait – What’s So Great About Pickleball?
Why pickleball? Why not just play tennis, ping-pong or something else?
Well, it has a lot going for it. First of all, it’s a lot cheaper than playing tennis – you don’t need special shoes or an expensive racket. Second, it’s a lot easier to learn than tennis.
Third, it’s a great workout; you’ll get your heart rate up and burn a lot of calories.
Fourth, the game is a ton of fun. It’s fast-paced and exciting, and you can really test your skills against other players. Since almost anyone can play, pairing up with someone of the same skill level makes it less stressful.
So if you’re looking for a new sport to try, pickleball is a great option. Give it a shot – you might just be hooked. Because it can be as low-key as you like, it’s also a great opportunity for social interactions.
It’s a Wrap
It’s easy to see why Pickleball has become so popular as probably the most flexible active sport around. It allows you to play at your own pace and skill level, and in these too-contentious times, it feels calm and less confrontational.
Roosevelt Island and anywhere else can use some of that.
The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
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