Town of Hempstead unveils adaptive pickleball court in Wantagh

The Town of Hempstead unveiled a new pickleball court in Forest City Park, in Wantagh, but what’s unique about this court is that it was built with the disabled community in mind.

The court was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park on July 11, when Town Supervisor Don Clavin spoke of the rising popularity of the game. The Town of Hempstead now has 58 pickleball courts, but Clavin said that this one would be the first on Long Island to accommodate people with disabilities.

“As the demand increases, the realization that everybody wants to enjoy the sport is very, very important,” he said.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, and is played on a small court with paddles and a perforated plastic ball. According to Clavin, the game’s health benefits have been a key factor in its rising popularity. As a low-impact sport, it puts minimal stress on joints and muscles, and improves heart health and circulation, according to a Town of Hempstead news release.

The adaptive court is larger than a standard one, which is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, according to USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport in the country. The new court is 74 feet long and 44 feet wide, with additional space surrounding it for more accessibility.

Clavin was joined at the ceremony by Councilman Dennis Dunne, Councilwoman Missy Miller, Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll and members of the Aviators of Nassau County wheelchair softball team, an organization whose goal is to create, promote and expand opportunities for people with physical impairments. Its president, Drew Scopelitis, and members offered feedback during the court’s construction, according to Clavin.

Scopelitis said he was amazed by the new court’s accessibility for disabled people. More space around the court, he said, makes it convenient for players to transfer from their normal wheelchairs to sports chairs, specialized wheelchairs designed for increased mobility and maneuverability.

“Having room to bring their sports chair and their everyday chair to a court and leave it off on the side is amazing,” Scopelitis said.

Scopelitis was born with spina bifida. While he is a wheelchair user, he is not confined to one, but needs one for activities such as pickleball. Other members, he said, are in similar situations, and having a place where they can play pickleball helps to bring more people into their organization.

“It’s just special to have something like this right here,” Scopelitis said.

Miller is a lifelong advocate for the disabled community, according to Clavin. One of the benefits of her advocacy, he noted, is that she helped broaden her colleagues’ outlook on making the experience of living in the Town of Hempstead great for everybody. Miller has a child with special needs, which has made her more aware of the disabled community’s needs.

“You don’t know that things aren’t accessible because they’re accessible to those who are capable of accessing them,” Miller said.

Use of the court is free, and it is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Equipment is not provided, so participants are encouraged to bring specialized paddle and balls for adaptive play. According to Clavin, wheelchair users prefer lighter paddles with specialized grips and a softer ball that allows for a better bounce and more control.

It is the responsibility of local government, Clavin said, to make sure groups with disabilities have a space to enjoy such activities. He said he hoped this would be the first of many adaptive pickleball courts.

“We’re hoping, as we continue to build more of these facilities, the other municipalities across this region will follow suit,” he said, “because everybody has a passion for this game.”