CityPickle Welcomes the Queer Pickle Community to Industry City

“You can find queer anything in New York: queer knitting! queer book group! But there was no queer pickleball.” Kat Preciado explained. She and Liz Kamel met on the pickleball courts in March 2023 and quickly identified this gap. They joined forces to start Queer Pickle, to “foster community and wellbeing, create a safe and supportive environment, and provide opportunities for engaging and fun physical activity.”

Queer Pickle Open Play, a partnership with CityPickle, is now available Friday nights, welcoming players to an evening of pickleball with a social and lively focus. Queer Pickle hosts ensure that players of every level feel comfortable picking up a paddle and jumping in a game. Free paddle rentals are included for every player, and light coaching is available. Players often continue the bonding over food and drinks at Industry City’s many bars and restaurants at the end of the evening.

“The community at QP is truly welcoming and it’s been a blast to expand our group! The atmosphere at CityPickle is playful, vibrant, and high energy – and the courts are full week after week.” -Liz Kamel

“Accessibility is at the heart of everything we do at Queer Pickle, so we make sure that our programs are open to anyone who wants to participate, and that people feel not just included, but valued.” -Kat Preciado

CityPickle and Queer Pickle are also offering Queer Pickle League for Advanced Beginner and Intermediate players. The league is designed to offer time each week for coaching along with structured league play.

Kat explains, “We are focused on wellbeing and community —but we also want to help raise our skills to the next level. It’s all about playing a sport with like-minded people, making friends, and improving together.”

Queer Pickle Open Play is every Friday, 6–8:00 pm. Sign-up spots drop at noon one week ahead of each session:

• Dec 22, sign-up now
• Dec 29
• Jan 6
• Jan 19
• Jan 26
• Feb 2
• Feb 9
• Feb 16

The Queer Pickle League is Sunday afternoons, 3-5:00 pm. The league is currently open for registration, join now:

• Jan 7
• Jan 14
• Jan 21
• Jan 28

Follow Queer Pickle and CityPickle on Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming pickleball offerings.