Padel court at 111 West 57th Street
Pickleball has flitted in and out of fashion since its invention in 1965, but experienced a new appreciation during the pandemic, as people could be active and social while not having to get too physically close. The sport described as a cross between tennis and ping pong has risen in popularity all over the country, but Time Out observes that something about the sport feels uniquely New York – residents live in close proximity yet alone in their apartments or rooms.
Pickleball's popularity shows no sign of fading away, even as padel has emerged as a popular activity. The two racquet sports share several similarities, but there are some key differences: While pickleball can be played on open-air courts, padel courts have glass walls that get incorporated into play. Additionally, between larger courts and slightly heavier racquets, padel offers more of a cardio workout than pickleball.
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This Brooklyn Heights apartment is located a short distance from a covered pickleball court at Brooklyn Bridge Park. (81 Columbia Heights, #51 - Compass; Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 - Alexa Hoyer)
Ahead of the US Open, which began on Monday, August 26, five-star hotel Lotte New York Palace hosted The Palace Invitational, a pickleball tournament for tennis' biggest stars, in its courtyard. The courtyard was quickly restored to its usual state following the tournament, and the city has no shortage of pickleball and padel courts welcoming amateur athletes. This website is a good place to start searching, and we take a look at listings less than a mile of the city's most popular courts, the better to get home after a particularly vigorous game.
Meanwhile, to the delight of residents, some residential buildings have begun to incorporate pickleball and padel courts into their amenity packages. In an interview with the Washington Post, 111 West 57th Street's developer Michael Stern observed, "We have this insane 82-foot indoor swimming pool in the building and residents probably use the padel court 10 times more."
Residential Courts
111 West 57th Street (David Sundberg)
Padel court (Adrian Gaut)
111 West 57th Street is one of the tallest buildings on Billionaires' Row and home to an unparalleled amenities package. Wellness offerings alone include a double-height fitness center, an 82-foot indoor pool, and Manhattan's first indoor private padel court.
111 West 57th Street, #58 (Sothebys International Realty)
50 West 66th Street (Corcoran Group)
When construction on 50 West 66th Street is complete, residents of the Upper West Side's tallest tower will enjoy access to approximately 50,000 square feet of amenities. These will include a state-of-the-art fitness center and a full-sized basketball and pickleball court.
50 West 66th Street, #53N
$35,000,000
Central Park West | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 4,878 ft2
50 West 66th Street, #53N (Corcoran Group)
Sky (Moinian Group)
Residents of pioneering Hell's Kitchen rental Sky enjoy access to an array of amenities that includes a 70,000-square-foot Life Time Fitness outpost. This location is home to two indoor pickleball courts.
Sky, #15S (Aura NYC LLC)
From the Listing: Corner one-bed with private balcony features high-end finishes and classic wood flooring throughout. The kitchen has granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. See floor plan and full details here.
The Brooklyn Tower (Douglas Elliman)
The tallest building in Brooklyn and the borough's first supertall is home to another superlative: what is being described as "the highest basketball, pickleball, and padel court in the Western Hemisphere.” Located 629 feet up, the state-of-the-art athletic facility is enhance by panoramic skyline views.
The Brooklyn Tower, #27K (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Hancock Jefferson (Serhant LLC)
Bushwick boutique condominium Hancock Jefferson offers only 18 units and an incredible array of indoor/outdoor amenities for a building its size. They include a fitness center with yoga studio, an outdoor pickleball/basketball court, a dog run, and indoor and outdoor lounges.
Hancock Jefferson, #PHA (Serhant LLC)
Public Courts
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Reserve Padel Hudson Yards, Midtown West
Learn more and make reservations here
Reserve Padel at Hudson Yards (Reserve Padel)
In August 2023, developer McCourt Global released renderings of a new office tower to rise at 360 Tenth Avenue. Plans for the site date back to 2005, but local athletes might not mind if it is further delayed: An outdoor padel club with three courts, an elevated viewing area, and a grab-and-go cafe is going strong on the site.
Fifteen Hudson Yards, #72B (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group)
Open through October 2024
Learn more and make reservations here
Learn more and make reservations here
Wollman Rink (CityPickle)
With 14 courts and 196 hours of play every day, CityPickle at Wollman Rink is the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast. After a successful 2023 debut, the courts were resurfaced and operator CityPickle announced that they would become a permanent fixture, staying underneath the ice when the skating rink opens for the winter.
825 Fifth Avenue, #12C (Corcoran Group)
Riverside Park pickleball courts, Morningside Heights
No reservations required
Riverside Park pickleball court opening ceremony (Riverside Park Conservancy)
To the delight of enthusiasts, Riverside Park's improvements included five newly opened pickleball courts, located in a little-used section of the park between the skate park and basketball courts. Even on the hottest days, players have benefitted from shade trees and river breezes. Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, West Side Rag noted that players quickly found the new courts on their own.
The Rockwell, #5C (Toll Brothers Real Estate Inc)
Carl Schurz Park pickleball courts, Yorkville
No reservations required
Pickleball courts at Carl Schurz Park (Elegran)
In this peaceful enclave along the East River, three new pickleball courts have been set up in a recently resurfaced area. The courts do not take reservations, but when Patch visited in June 2023, the reporter saw proactivity among the players, arranging whose turn it was and a rough skills-matching system
Gracie Green, #PH10 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Court 16, Downtown Brooklyn
Learn more and make reservations here
Court 16 rendering (Court 16)
Downtown Brooklyn's City Point development is home to several popular retailers, Dekalb Market Hall, an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a Trader Joe's supermarket, and the flagship location of Court 16, an athletic facility offering seven tennis and pickleball courts of various sizes, including a full-size court. When 6sqft announced the opening last year, they noted that the opening date coincided with the beginning of the US Open tennis tournament.
Brooklyn Point, #61E (Serhant LLC)
Pier 2 pickleball, Brooklyn Heights
No reservations required
Learn more here
Learn more here
Pickleball courts (Alexa Hoyer)
Brooklyn Bridge Park's pickleball courts are located on the same stretch as the ping pong tables, basketball courts, and roller rink. While the park does not offer any formal pickleball events or training, the covered court does allow play to take place in all types of weather, and the address makes for a scenic backdrop.
Quay Tower, #2A (Serhant LLC)
Gantry Plaza State Park pickleball, Long Island City
No reservations required
Google Streetview of Gantry Plaza State Park tennis courts
In an industrial setting turned bucolic haven, two pickleball courts have been added alongside Gantry Plaza State Park's tennis courts. Players of all levels are welcome, and the park spent the summer holding Pickleball Open classes to teach newcomers the basics.
The Powerhouse, #216 (Modern Spaces)
CityPickle, Long Island City
Learn more and book court time here
CityPickle Long Island City (CityPickle)
After years of pop-ups all over the city, including one at TWA Hotel in November 2022, CityPickle opened its first brick-and-mortar location at 9-03 44th Road, a converted industrial building in Long Island City. It will feature four air-conditioned courts, a restaurant, and a full bar.
Arris Lofts, #553 (Daniel Chen LLC)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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