Bringing Pickleball Popularity To Wantagh With Several New Courts

WANTAGH, NY — Pickleball is the latest craze and Nassau County is taking notice. They are making space for the sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong.

At Wantagh Park, five tennis courts have been resurfaced and striped to create 10 pickleball courts.

"Pickleball is on the upswing and I am happy to meet the demand for our many residents flocking to this fast-growing sport," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said in a statement. "By modernizing our parks with popular new amenities, we’re also attracting new markets, new partnerships and opportunities to boost our economy."

The announcement follows an inaugural-free adult pickleball clinic and mixed doubles tournament hosted by Sportime on Saturday in Wantagh Park in partnership with the county.

"We were so happy to have 45 adult beginners participate in our instructional clinic and 32 intermediate players participate in our competitive tournament," said Joseph Siegel, managing director of Sportime Clubs. "The feedback from the players regarding the courts, the instruction and the organization was extremely positive."

The renovation is part of the county’s recent $1 million investment to refurbish a total of 17 crumbling, cracked tennis courts, many now also striped for pickleball.

Pickleball courts are also being created in Woodmere and at Nickerson Beach.