Northampton is marking an exciting new chapter for its community with the start of construction on six new pickleball courts at Ray Ellerbrook Field. This much-anticipated development, celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, brings fresh opportunities for local “picklers,” the dedicated players of this fast-growing, tennis-like sport. City officials, players, and supporters gathered to kick off the project, which aims for completion by Memorial Day next year.
Jennifer Bryan, president of the Friends of Northampton Pickleball, led the groundbreaking event, symbolically using a shovel decorated with a pickleball paddle. “There are over 600 picklers here in Northampton,” she shared, underscoring the local enthusiasm for the sport. Bryan’s organization played a pivotal role in launching the project, initially raising $50,000 to initiate planning and development.
This community-driven funding effort received a significant boost when the City Council approved a $350,000 grant through the Community Preservation Act. These funds enabled the project to proceed at a grassy stretch near the Ellerbrook Field parking area, where the courts will be installed in a row. Northampton will soon join neighboring towns like Amherst, Easthampton, and Holyoke, which have already embraced the sport with their own dedicated courts, further establishing the Pioneer Valley as a regional hub for pickleball enthusiasts.
Ann-Marie Moggio, director of Northampton’s Parks and Recreation Department, recalled the early days of pickleball’s arrival in the area. It first caught her attention in 2014, following an inquiry from a colleague in the Department of Public Works who had seen a news segment about the sport. “By 2016, interest was ramping up, and by 2019 it had exploded,” Moggio explained. The city’s support solidified in January 2020, when former Mayor David Narkewicz began talks on expanding pickleball facilities, though these plans were temporarily delayed by the pandemic.
After securing a grant for a feasibility study, Northampton selected Ray Ellerbrook Field as the ideal site and finalized funding through a Community Preservation Act grant in 2023. Now, with construction underway, residents are thrilled to see the project taking shape, a milestone that reflects years of commitment from the city and the community alike.
At the ceremony, current Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra expressed gratitude for the Friends of Northampton Pickleball and the city’s residents who rallied around the project. The new courts promise to enhance recreational options and create more opportunities for community connection, further enriching the city’s vibrant public spaces.