Urban pickleball purveyor and lifestyle brand CityPickle is set to transform a 60,000-square-foot area between Brooklyn’s Washington and Old Fulton Streets into CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge, as part of a broader revitalization effort, the company announced Thursday.
The project will repurpose the Brooklyn Anchorage Plaza into an active destination featuring 11 pickleball courts, shaded seating, green space, bike racks, games like chess and rotating food trucks. Community programming is also planned for the public space.
“Our goal is to create a public space that improves urban vitality and promotes health, happiness and well-being,” CityPickle co-founder and co-CEO Erica Desai said.
CityPickle secured a three-year license agreement, with three one-year options, after being selected as the top-rated proposer in an NYC Parks RFP issued in 2024. The new site will span three interconnected areas: Old Fulton Street Yard, Washington Old Street Yard and Ash Alley.
“The CityPickle Brooklyn Bridge plan actively demonstrates how pickleball can transform placemaking in dense cities,” CityPickle co-founder and co-CEO Mary Cannon said.
It marks the first time in over 15 years that nearly two football fields of space will be opened to the public for sports and recreation, adding a significant urban amenity to the area. The pickleball courts will be available seasonally, with the remainder of the revisioning plan and its amenities available year-round, such as arts programming, pedestrian-friendly walkways and games.
“By transforming this fenced-off lot into a dynamic public plaza, we’re giving New Yorkers and visitors a safe and accessible place to work up a sweat and take in the fresh air, here in scenic DUMBO,” NYC Parks First Deputy Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said. “Whether you’re heading to the pickleball courts for a workout, lounging in the shade by the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, or enjoying refreshments from world-class food trucks, the revitalized Anchorage Plaza will have something for everyone. Our partnership with CityPickle is a great example of how park concessionaires can enrich our public spaces for all New Yorkers to enjoy.”
True to its name, CityPickle has embedded itself in New York’s recreational scene. The company also operates seasonal courts at Central Park’s Wollman Rink through a partnership with Wollman Park Partners. Approved by NYC Parks in 2024, the installation features 14 resurfaced courts that have drawn more than 130,000 participants to date.
Mary Cannon will be speaking at the upcoming ATN Innovation Summit 2025. For tickets, click here.
To stay up to date with the latest developments on the ATN Innovation Summit 2025, be sure to subscribe to the Athletech News newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
