Pickleball comes to Newcastle
Photo by KateLynn Slaamot/NLJ A pickleball court was recently donated by Eileen Vickers for the public. The court is located by Centennial Park in Newcastle, and is ready for use, although people have to bring their own paddles and ball.
People are always looking for more to do in a small town, whether that be indoor activities or outdoor recreation when weather allows, and Newcastle will offer another form of the latter variety after the community recently received its very own pickleball court, donated by Eileen Vickers, with the intent that it be used by the public.
Pickleball is played with a racket or paddle, according to Wikipedia, and was invented in 1965. Pickleball is similar to tennis but has its own “specific rules, paddles and court dimensions,” the article states.
Vickers, who donated the land and court, initially wanted the area to be a dog park. When that didn’t work out, she decided a pickleball court would be a good addition to Newcastle’s recreational offerings.
“A lot of people had been talking about pickleball,” Vickers said, noting that some people even drive somewhere else to play. “We need a pickleball court here.”
Vickers said that the work began on it a couple of years ago when John Carr put the fence up, although at that time the plan was for the dog park. Later on, Julio Holguin poured the concrete, and Sue Simon helped Vickers paint the court lines. The court was complete when the finishing touch of installing the net was eventually accomplished.
The court was officially donated within the past month, Vickers stated, and is ready for use. People do need to bring their own rackets and ball, but the court is open anytime, although it doesn’t have lights for nighttime playing. The court is located next to Centennial Park, and Vickers suggested that the public be thoughtful about playing at certain times of day to avoid disturbing neighbors.
“And then just play away. It’s just fun to get some exercise,” Vickers said.
Newcastle Mayor Pam Gualtieri expressed her excitement to have a pickleball court in Newcastle.
“Pickleball is such a growing sport all around us, so it’s kind of neat to have it finally hit here. … You’re getting people out of the house; you’re getting people moving, all different ages. I think it’s absolutely awesome that we have it,” Gualtieri said.
“I’m very, very thankful for Eileen Vickers donating that for that purpose,” she added.