Green Lake Pickleball: Where Community and Sport Collide Discover the Inclusive World of Pickleball at Green Lake and Forge Friendships on the Court
The name derives from the term “pickle boat,” a crew moniker for the boat comprised of the rowers left over after everyone else has picked a boat. That name was, supposedly, in reference to the hodgepodge combination of equipment used in those early pickleball games (Ping-Pong paddles, a badminton net and a perforated plastic ball) but in some ways is appropriate to the players themselves; with pickleball, your partner or opponent can be anyone. The game is intimate, essentially like full-size table tennis, with players thwacking a little hollow plastic ball over a small net, close enough to look each other in the face and even have conversations while playing without having to shout.
Local pickleball enthusiast Peter Seitel is the unofficial mayor of this ersatz community of like-minded ball picklers; he makes the required reservations during prime play time (weekday afternoons and weekend mornings) working around individual tennis reservations and school tennis groups, and champions their cause with the Parks Department and the city, campaigning for things like more visible court lines and lighting, and collecting numbers on the players and court usage. According to Seitel’s surveys, the scene at Green Lake is a bit younger than what is generally perceived as the average pickleball player — it is sometimes seen as a sport for senior citizens — and perhaps due to its centrality or its openness, is surprisingly diverse and youthful; some numbers from Pete’s unofficial survey suggests that roughly 70% of the people who show up to play are between the ages of 20 and 40, and the average age is 36.
And when they come, they come to both play and bond with each other, a somewhat unique situation in a city increasingly built around “networking events” which, with their implied pecuniary ulterior motives, make it difficult to actually build authentic connections. During peak times (afternoons and weekends, the best time to come as a drop-in beginner) there are 70 to 100 players out on those courts on a given afternoon, playing or waiting their turn, passing the time by chit-chatting. True community building can be a lost art in urban centers with skyrocketing rent, but the people showing up at Green Lake with their rackets are there because they like playing pickleball and, as with children, the desire to play is often enough to make a friend. (Source: Seattle Times, Pickleball at Green Lake is a great way to meet new friends, March 18, 2024)
Swingin' on Green Lake: A Pickleball Jam
In Seattle's heart, where the vibe's just right, At East Green Lake Park, where days turn to night, Pickleball's the game, since 1965 it's been the spark, A Washington invention, where players embark.
With rackets in hand, and spirits so high, Underneath the sunny, open sky, Friends are made, as the balls do fly, In this jazzy scene, where the spirits don't die.
No need to fret if you're new to the game, At Green Lake, all are treated the same, From the seasoned pros to the rookies just in, Each rally and match is a chance to begin.
The courts may be tennis, but they're pickleball through, A fusion of sports, where friendships accrue, In this melting pot of yellow and blue, Where the game's not just pickle, it's a rhythm anew.
Peter Seitel, the maestro, orchestrates the show, With data and passion, he makes sure it'll grow, He's the heart and soul of this vibrant flow, Where the sound of laughter is the status quo.
So come on down to Green Lake's shore, Where the pickleball vibes are forevermore, In this place where friendships soar, And the game's not just pickle, it's an open door.
