There is a new pickleball court at Bradley Park in the Village of Walden. The court is located within the top tennis court inside the park.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, with 26-40 round holes, over a net. The sport shares the dimensions and layout of a badminton court.

In pickleball, the ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand service-square), and points can only be scored by the side that serves. Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed and there is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent spiking. The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by at least two points wins. Pickleball can be played with singles or doubles.

Michael Bliss, recreation coordinator for the Village of Walden, noted that the pickleball court project cost only $1,400.

“We had our tennis courts prior, so it’s just painting on top of the tennis court,” he said.

Bliss added that the court was painted, as pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Many residents inquired about when a court would be put in place. The Walden Recreation and Parks Department also plans to include a pickleball court within the other tennis court at Bradley Park.
The new pickleball court gives Walden residents another opportunity for exercise.

“[The court provides] more opportunities for all ages, youth to seniors, to give them more opportunities to play sports in our village,” Bliss said.

Bliss noted that the parks and recreation department plans on holding a pickleball tournament sometime in the future. The department will also provide pickleball lessons.