New Haven’s In A Pickle

Five hundred forty-four athletes from 16 states have registered to grab paddles and compete in America’s fastest-growing sport this weekend — and get a taste of the Elm City in the process.

The occasion is the USA Pickleball Atlantic Diamond Regional Tournament, which has moved from Maine to New Haven this year. Players from throughout New England aged 12 to 75 years old will compete on 20 newly installed temporary courts at the Floyd Little Athletic Center from Friday through Sunday.

Public admission to the event is free.

“Are you ready?” city youth and rec director Gwendolyn Busch Williams called out Wednesday at a press event touting the upcoming tourney, held at the new pickleball courts at Edgewood Park. Yes, fellow officials and organizers cheered, they’re ready.

Meanwhile, on the courts, players showed how to play something between tennis and ping pong (with paddles on a 20-by-40-foot court, with less running and more fast action than tennis). Click on the video to watch Mayor Justin Elicker and parks and rec’s Felicia Shashinka, a pickleball enthusiast who initiated bringing the tourney here, try their hand; and to watch tourney Managing Director Win Oppel and Edgewood Park resident tennis pro Billy Bostic explain the game’s appeal and rules. Including the ​“kitchen” — a 7‑foot zone adjacent to the net — where you can’t stand when returning shots in the air. (You may enter the kitchen if the ball bounces.)

“Five hundred people coming to New Haven is a big deal,” noted city economic development chief Mike Piscitelli (pictured). He said the city’ has prepared gift bags with visitor guides for the visitors ​“to show what we have to offer” beyond pickleball in New Haven, including a suggestion to visit NXTHVN gallery’s Not 4 Sale exhibit a block away.

“It’s a sport for democracy. It brings families together,” said Alder Tom Ficklin (pictured), whose ward includes the tourney site. An estimated 4.8 million people played pickleball in the U.S. last year, a number that rose 39.3 percent over two years.

New Haven has put pickleball courts in Edgewood and Scantlebury parks, with more planned. The tourney has promised to donate balls and nets this weekend’s event, which the parks and rec crew said they’ll use for neighborhood pop-up events. Tourney organizers have also promised to the city a to-be-determined amount of cash as well. Youth and rec, meanwhile, plans to launch free pickleball clinics at Edgewood starting April 24 from 12 – 1:30 pm.; click here for more info and to register.

At the Edgewood courts, Oppel bestowed the tourney’s (honorary) first gold medal on Mayor Elicker.