Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is a public help partnership that manages Roosevelt Island in New York City.
Roosevelt Island has a rich history and is home to many important figures in American history, including President Theodore Roosevelt.
The company, under Shelton Haynes, announced it would bring pickleball to the island near Manhattan and part of Queens County.
The game combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis, and the court will be the first in New York City dedicated entirely to pickleball.
Pickleball is played with a penetrated plastic ball, which makes it easy for players to see where the ball lands after being hit by the racquet (similar to ping pong).
The goal is to get points by hitting your opponent’s court with your shot before they do so with theirs; each point won equals one win toward winning the game overall.
The game was innovated in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, an American physical education teacher who wanted to create something fun for his students during their free time at school.
He named it after his wife’s grandmother, who would make pickles every year when they came over for Thanksgiving dinner together as kids.
The Roosevelt Island Court will be the first court in New York City dedicated entirely to pickleball.
The new court will be located on the second floor of the new community center at 555 Main Street, scheduled for completion in 2021.
It will feature 20 permanent pickleball tables and locker rooms for players who wish to shower after their game or practice session before heading home or out into Manhattan for dinner with friends afterward.
The NPA has over 50,000 members nationwide today–and now Roosevelt Island will be joining them.
In addition to its outdoor courts, for residents to enjoy year-round, indoor facilities will also be available during inclement weather.