Melville – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, joined by Councilmen Mark Cuthbertson and Eugene Cook and players from across the Town, officially opened the Town’s first dedicated pickleball courts at Whitman Park September 27.
The four courts were constructed by Town employees in a former rollerblading area of the park, on New York Avenue just north of Northern State Parkway, after the Supervisor met with residents of the Greens at Half Hollow, a large over-55 community near the park, who had asked for courts specifically for their sport, whose popularity is increasing.
“Everybody wants pickleball now. It’s really starting to grow,” Supervisor Petrone said at the official opening of what he called the Huntington Pickleball Center. The Supervisor traced the sport’s roots from its creation in the backyard of a Washington state public official a half century ago to its current popularity, with an estimated 2.5 million players, primarily seniors. “It really keeps seniors moving,” the Supervisor said.
Councilman Cuthbertson added, “It’s great to see a sport that can be played a little bit longer [by seniors]. A tennis player who is avid can switch to pickleball.”
Added Councilman Cook. “We are so proud to have the first public pickleball courts in Huntington. Use it safely, use it often and enjoy every day here.”
Councilwomen Susan A. Berland and Tracey A. Edwards were unable to attend the ceremony but expressed their support.
Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and ping pong. The court is the size of a badminton court, and the rules are a cross between tennis and ping pong. It is played with racquets and a Wiffle ball. While there are a number of tennis courts on Long Island that have been striped for pickleball, including two at Whitman Park, the new Whitman Park courts are among the very few set up just for the sport, relieving the tension between tennis and pickleball players. Many tennis players do not like to have pickleball lines painted on the tennis courts. And pickleball players wanted courts of their own.
The project was completed by Town employees from the Highway and General Services Departments at a minimal cost. Supervisor Petrone thanked Highway Superintendent Peter Gunther, Parks and Recreation Director Don McKay and Deputy General Services Director Keith Barrett for their efforts in spearheading the project.