14 Pickleball Courts in Central Park's Wollman Rink (info & tickets)
Starting April 17, 2023, 14 Pickleball courts will take over the Wollman Rink in Central Park. Pickleball, a paddle game that is a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton, will have its new home in Central Park, NYC. The NYC Pickleball Community will be so happy to hear this!
it’s time to put the Ice Skates in the closet (waiting for the upcoming Christmas season) and go buy (or rent) a Pickleball paddle to play in the Wollman Rink!
In this article from my NYC Blog I will explain everything you need to know about Pickleball, a fun and engaging sport that has attracted growing demand in NYC.
Here you will also find important information about dates, tickets and prices for playing Pickleball in Central Park.
RECOMMENDED: How to get to Central Park by Subway
What is Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States of America. The pickleball community in NYC is growing and, as of today, there are already over 400 Pickleball courts scattered around the city!
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three friends looking for an easy and fun game.
This racket game is a mix of tennis, badminton and padel.
In fact, the Pickleball Racket is solid and rectangular-shaped.
Each of the 14 Central Park Courts to play Pickleball will have the size of a badminton court and will have a tennis-like net. However, compared to the tennis court, the Pickleball one is much smaller.
The ball is called “wiffle ball” and it is made of plastic. Main feature of the Pickleball ball is that it has many holes in it.
Even if you have never heard of Pickleball, we are sure you will have a great time trying it out in one of the 14 Pickleball Courts in Central Park and join the Pickleball Community in NYC.
How to play Pickleball
Playing Pickleball is very simple and looks a lot like tennis, ping pong and badminton. Tennis players will have no problem turning into Pickleball players at the Wollman Rink!
The goal is to hit the ball and get it over the net without the opponent being able to return it. The biggest difference from tennis is the so-called “Non-Volley Zone” or “Kitchen” a 6.8 feet (2.1-meter) area near the net where it is forbidden to hit the wiffle ball on the fly.
Similar to Tennis players, Pickleball can be played one-on-one or in pairs in each of the Wollman Rink courts in Central Park.
The Scoring System is very similar to that of table tennis. In fact, whoever reaches 11 points first with a lead of at least 2 points wins the set.
Now that you know more about Pickleball and how to play it, it time to welcome it in its new home in Central Park, Manhattan.
Where can I play pickleball in Central Park?
The Central Park Ice Skating Rink (Wollman Rink) will be transformed from April 17 into a destination for Pickleball lovers. In fact, 14 Pickleball courts will occupy the Wollman Rink throughout the spring and summer, until Oct. 9, 2023. After that, Wollman Rink will return to host the world-famous rink for the 2023 Christmas Season.
Pickleball players will be able to play in the 14 pickleball courts in the Wollman Rink for 196 hours of play each week, ensuring ample opportunity for everyone to join in the fun.
We are confident that with its strategic location at Wollman Rink and its new home at Central Park, Pickleball will become even more popular in NYC.
RECOMMENDED: Best Pizza Around Central Park
When do the Pickleball courts open in Central Park?
It will be possible to play Pickleball at Wollman Rink from April 17 to October 9, 2023.
You can play every day Pickleball in Central Park. In fact, its courts in the Wollman Rink will be open daily from 7 a.m.to 9 p.m.
Where can I purchase tickets for Pickleball in Central Park?
Tickets to play Pickleball will be available starting March 31, 2023 on the CityPickle website. Alternatively, you will be able to buy Tickets directly at the Wollman Rink ticket office.
How much does it cost to play Pickleball at the Wollman Rink in Central Park?
Renting one of the 14 Pickleball courts at Wollman Rink costs between $80 and $120 per hour, depending on the day and time you decide to play. Be sure to buy tickets online in advance if you want to play Pickleball in Central Park during peak times.
If you want, you can also rent rackets and wiffle balls at the Pickleball location for $6 each.
More questions about Pickleball in Central Park?
If you have any questions about this article, the recreation center, the way to buy tickets, or its opening hours, please feel free to message me on Instagram (My Christmas in New York). My name is Marco and I am always happy to help you plan your trip to NYC.