Quick answer (verified 2026-10-09): Brooklyn has 26 dedicated NYC Parks pickleball courts at 5 parks, plus 8 more at Marine Park in NYC Open Data. That's 34 public park courts, and NYC Open Data lists none of them as lit. Leif Ericson Park alone has 13. Brooklyn Bridge Park runs free open play at Pier 2. For indoor play, PKLYN (5 courts), Indoor Pickleball X (13) and Red Hook Pickleball Club (5) are open now, and CityPickle says 11 courts are "coming soon" in Dumbo.
Brooklyn, in one paragraph
Brooklyn plays pickleball the way it does everything: loudly, in public, and with opinions about the right paddle. The free courts cluster in two places. Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights have Leif Ericson's 13-court spread and John J. Carty's four. East New York and Brownsville have Linden Park and Breukelen Ballfields. Marine Park adds eight more in the south. When it's raining, or it's January, or you just want a bar next to your court, the indoor clubs in Greenpoint, Gowanus and Red Hook will take your money politely.
Data notes. Marine Park's 8 courts appear in NYC Open Data (Athletic Facilities, property B057) but not on NYC Parks' pickleball page. The exact court spot inside the park is unverified. Brooklyn Bridge Park doesn't publish a court count. CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge is listed as "Coming Soon" on CityPickle's site, so don't plan around it yet. Courts that some players mention but that no official source confirms (for example taped lines on shared tennis courts) are left out on purpose.
Free courts vs indoor clubs
Free NYC Parks courts
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2
Indoor clubs (PKLYN, IPX, Red Hook)
Cost
Free (no tennis permit at Brooklyn sites)
Free
Paid (court rental, open play, memberships)
Booking
First come, first served
First come, first served; no league permits; events need a special event permit
Online booking
Lights
Unlit (NYC Open Data)
Unverified (Pier 2 hours: 8 AM–11 PM, seasonal)
Indoor
Best for
Pickup games, regulars
Waterfront views, drop-in
Winter, leagues, lessons
Clubs, leagues and groups
PKLYN (pklyn.com): social open play, competitive play and lessons. Books through CourtReserve.
Indoor Pickleball X Brooklyn (indoorpickleballx.com/bk): tournaments, drop-in play and 24/7 member access.
Red Hook Pickleball Club (redhookpickleball.com): DUPR-rated and unrated open play, 6-week leagues and clinics.
Leif Ericson is the main event. 13 courts at 8th Ave and 66th–67th Sts means the best odds of a game at your level.
Follow Brooklyn Bridge Park's stack rules. Games to 11, win by 1. Waiting players stack paddles left to right, and four new players come on when a game ends. Court time is shared equally.
No lights. NYC Open Data lists Brooklyn's park courts as unlit. Fall evenings end early.
Bring your own gear. Brooklyn Bridge Park says you need your own equipment for park sports.
Winter plan. Book indoor time before the cold sets in. Club calendars fill up.
Gear for these courts
Gear
Outdoor pickleballs
Brooklyn's free courts are outdoor asphalt, so bring a ball made for it.
At NYC Parks' dedicated courts at Leif Ericson Park (13), John J. Carty Park (4), Linden Park (4), Breukelen Ballfields (3) and Winthrop Playground (2), and at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2, all first come, first served. Marine Park has 8 more courts in NYC Open Data, though NYC Parks doesn't list them on its pickleball page.
Do I need a tennis permit for Brooklyn pickleball courts?
Not at Leif Ericson, John J. Carty, Linden or Breukelen. Their NYC Parks pages show "Requires Tennis Permit: N".
Where is indoor pickleball in Brooklyn?
PKLYN at 80 4th St in Gowanus (5 courts plus a dink court), Indoor Pickleball X at 49 Ash St in Greenpoint (13 cushioned courts) and Red Hook Pickleball Club at 262 Van Brunt St (5 courts).
Can I reserve a court at Brooklyn Bridge Park?
No. Brooklyn Bridge Park says its pickleball courts are open play only, first come, first served. Tournaments and special events need a special event permit.
Which Brooklyn park has the most pickleball courts?
Leif Ericson Park, with 13.
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