CityPickle Plans Brooklyn Club After Central Park And Times Square
- CityPickle plans an 11-court club in DUMBO, next to the Brooklyn Bridge, for spring 2027.
- The company started in 2021 and runs sites in Central Park, Times Square and Philadelphia City Hall, plus six padel courts at a Florida club.
- The founders say they want each club to be a “third place” that is neither home nor work.
From A Preschool Friendship To Courts In Central Park
CityPickle will open an 11-court club in DUMBO in spring 2027, right beside the Brooklyn Bridge. The Pickleball Weekly reports that about 11 million people walk over the bridge each year. The Brooklyn site adds to a company that started in 2021 and now runs courts in Central Park and Times Square.
The Pickleball Weekly profiled the company in the cover story of its October 14 issue. Founders Erica Desai and Mary Cannon met in 2009, when their daughters started preschool together in New York City. Each found pickleball on a separate trip outside the city in the pandemic. They founded CityPickle in 2021.
Central Park, Times Square And The MLP Finals
The Central Park location debuted in 2023. CityPickle converted the Wollman Rink into 14 pickleball courts within weeks of signing the contract. The company has hosted the MLP Finals for the past two years, and the most recent event took place at the Central Park location this summer. CityPickle plans to host the finals again in 2027.
The Times Square flagship sits in a former theater. The founders first visited the space in October 2023, according to the article. In Philadelphia, CityPickle is in its fourth season at City Hall.
The company also reaches into padel. Boca Paddle by CityPickle in Florida includes six padel courts and will serve as the home courts for the Palm Beach Royals.
What Players Find On Court
Weekend nights include “$20 for 20s” and two hours of open play. The clubs also host free weekly Parkinson’s programming. The article names Elana Bush and Nikki Roth as coaches.
Desai says the goal is for CityPickle to be a “third place,” somewhere that is neither home nor work. Cannon says the hope is that members will embrace the entire experience and make the club their own third place. She adds that the company wants everyone to feel comfortable, “whether you’re a newbie or the GOAT.”
Cannon also points to how accessible pickleball is in most parts of the country as the reason for its soaring popularity.
Leadership And What Comes Next
Kim Russen joined as chief operating officer in December 2025. She was a founding partner of the first Tao restaurant and helped grow Tao Hospitality Group to more than 80 restaurants worldwide.
The article names London, Toronto and San Francisco as possible future locations.
For New York players, the next opening on the calendar is the DUMBO club in spring 2027. Philadelphia players have City Hall courts in their fourth season, and Florida players can find padel at Boca Paddle by CityPickle.
