Major Addition To Be Celebrated At Simsbury Park

SIMSBURY, CT — Two years after federal flood map technicalities soured plans to build pickleball courts at a local park, Simsbury is celebrating the opening of them.

The Town of Simsbury will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new courts on Wednesday, July 16, at 10 a.m. at Tariffville Park, located at Main Street Extension in the Tariffville section of Simsbury.

There, the town will mark the official opening of six new pickleball courts that are open to the public.

Pickleball is a popular variant of tennis that is played on a smaller court using specially-made paddles and a unique, new type of ball for the sport, as opposed to a tennis racquet and tennis ball.

Its popularity is increasing as the game is seen as good exercise for those less athletically inclined and/or older, but still seeking a vigorous workout, nonetheless.

There is even a major, professional pickleball circuit that is frequently seen on television sports networks.

Plans to build the new courts were delayed in 2023 due to federal red tape, specifically because the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps indicated the site was in a flood zone, as shown on a FEMA map.

This delayed the project for a while as the town had to navigate federal approval channels before finally getting the necessary OK to go forward.

The end results are six brand-new courts specifically designed for pickleball (not stripe overlays on existing tennis courts in town), one of which should prove popular on the local pickleball scene.

From March 15, 2023: 'Simsbury In a Pickle Over Pickleball Courts'