NEW YORK — Police say a vandal has targeted pickleball courts in Riverside Park.
He is said to have struck three times in the past week, cutting nets and throwing equipment into the trash.
Pickleball has skyrocketed in popularityand the courts at Riverside Park are always full.
However, someone seems to have an appetite for the fast-growing sport. Players say a vandal has entered the courts near 110th Street several times since May 18.
In a statement, the Parks Department said in part, “We are currently working with the NYPD to obtain more information about the individuals who did this.”
Pickleball players describe the vandalism
Eduardo Valentin said the man cut and dismantled the nets the first time and returned the next day when no one was around and allegedly stole the nets.
“Early in the morning he started putting a black bag in there and taking the nets, and then he came back and picked up our barriers,” Valentin said.
Players later discovered that the equipment was thrown away with waste.
But that wasn’t the last damage.
“The next day he came to throw the baskets out here and it seems like he doesn’t like this community,” pickleball player Betsy Plush said.
The pickleball community rallied to purchase new portable nets, but no longer leave them overnight. Players pack them into storage bins and lock them up.
“Let’s just enjoy our park”
The vandalism has left many confused as to why anyone would target it a group of pickleball players.
“It’s a great place to hang out, so I don’t know why anyone would do something like that,” said player Gil Eplan.
“I know there’s been controversy about pickleball, say the noise, but there’s a highway. We’re not next to anyone’s house,” Plush said. “Let’s enjoy our park.”
