Work Begins on New Pickleball Courts

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Sea Isle City began construction Monday on seven pickleball courts that are expected to be ready in time for the summer vacation season. The courts will be built on a site that most recently served as a parking lot next to Sea Isle’s Municipal Marina on 42nd Place. It was known as the “clam shell parking lot” because the surface was made up of crushed, white seashells. The city’s construction contractor, Ricky Slade Construction Inc., of Bridgeton, N.J., used an earthmover to clear out the clam shells and will replace them with asphalt for the pickleball courts. In addition to the new courts, the nearly $180,000 project will include new fencing, benches and trash cans. The courts are scheduled to open this summer and will be free to the public. Earthmoving equipment removes the white clam shells that will be replaced by the pickleball courts. The city is building the new courts to meet heavier demand for a fast-growing sport that is particularly popular with baby boomers and senior citizens. U.S. Census figures show that the average age in Sea Isle is 63 years old, which is right in the sweet spot for pickleball players. The sport combines elements of tennis, ping-pong and badminton. Less demanding than tennis, pickleball is a relatively low impact sport, which makes it appealing to senior citizens and baby boomers. “It’s popular with many different age groups, but seems to be extremely popular with baby boomers and seniors, among other people,” Sea Isle spokesman Katherine Custer said. Sea Isle built its first two permanent pickleball courts in 2017 on West Jersey Avenue, across the street from the city’s playground and recreation complex on John F. Kennedy Boulevard.