Nancy Stolpinski from the Pickleball for All club, speaks during the Westield Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Feb. 10, 2020, as commissioners Vincent Olinski, Robert Veronesi and Kenneth Magarian listen. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission Feb. 10 approved a new schedule, signage and more for the upcoming pickleball season.
Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a court with two or four players.
Pickleball for All club organizer Nancy Stolpinski presented a list of items for consideration Monday. One of her main requests was signage at the courts at Municipal Playground on Greylock Street. She said with the growing popularity of the sport, she is concerned that there could be a backlog of players waiting for courts.
Stolpinski asked that the Parks and Recreation Department install signage noting court etiquette and limiting players to one hour when there are people waiting.
She said many pickleball players are also tennis players and they tend to want to stay on the court, despite the number of people waiting.
“We want the signs to say that the courts are for all to use and please do not stay on a court for more than one hour if people are waiting to play,” Stolpinski said.
Commissioner Vincent Olinski said he understood the need for the signs.
“I think we should be proactive,” Olinski said. “I’ve been through the racquetball craze, the basketball craze, the tennis craze . . . when a sport gets popular, then come the issues.”
Deputy Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Scott Hathaway said he had plexiglass sign options and installing a kiosk was discussed. Stolpinski also requested that the pickleball courts be numbered and the tennis court, which is used for pickleball when there are no tennis players, be striped for pickleball play. Hathway said those requests would not be a problem.
Stolpinski submitted a schedule for use of the courts, which includes a new league play for two-hour blocks Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings on three courts.
Stolpinski said the league would be for more serious players.
“League play is intended to be more competitive play,” she said.
Stolpinski said the group wants to have both scheduled and unscheduled play. She said in addition to the six designated pickleball courts, there is a multi-purpose court that could be designated for unscheduled play to encourage new players, including families, to come learn and try out the sport.
Stolpinski said Pickleball for All is planning two, two-day tournament events this year featuring women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles teams.
Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Jim Blascak noted that there would be a three-week youth pickleball program in July that would run from 9 a.m. – noon.
Stolpinski said Pickleball for All use would not conflict with the program.
“Weekday mornings are slow,” she said. “Most of our use is in the evening and Saturday and Sunday mornings.”
