No Man’s Land: Pickleballer Fined for Improperly Poaching Tennis Court

With pickleball surging in popularity, Staten Island players are facing a shortage of courts, leading to conflicts with law enforcement. On June 11, NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol officers issued a $50 summons to a pickleball player who took over tennis courts at Fairview Park in Charleston for pickleball use. This incident highlights the growing tension between pickleball enthusiasts and local regulations as the sport's demand outpaces available facilities.

NYC Parks officials have been receiving complaints since 2023 about tennis courts at Fairview being repurposed for pickleball, often with tape that damages the court surfaces. Parks spokesman Gregg McQueen emphasized that the primary goal of the Parks Enforcement Patrol is to educate the public about park rules, but enforcement actions become necessary when rules are repeatedly disregarded. Despite this, players argue that the tennis courts remain largely unused, and repurposing them for pickleball prevents long waits and fosters a strong community spirit.

Staten Island Pickleball, with 900 members, experiences long waits at Fairview's three pickleball courts. Erik Lombardo, a member, expressed the need for more courts to accommodate the growing community. Although NYC Parks is working on adding more pickleball facilities, including at the Greenbelt Recreation Center, the current shortage continues to frustrate players. The situation at Fairview is further complicated by limited parking and disputes with the neighboring Bricktown Centre shopping plaza over parking access.