With pickleball courts open across Charlotte County, players find new normal

Reporter: Erika Jackson
Published: Updated:
Photo by WINK News.

Pick up your paddles and racquets!

Tennis and pickleball courts re-opened across Charlotte County Friday morning, and clearly, they’ve been missed.

Cheryl Bellio and her friend Susan Armo traded their AC, for the light breeze on a Punta Gorda tennis court.

“It’s been great today,” Bellio said. “The weather has been perfect.” With Armo adding, “This is what I love, this weather. Cool this morning, I love playing by the water.”

Friday was the first day courts are open in both Punta Gorda and Charlotte County.

Player Sam Cessna said, “I was surprised that they didn’t let you play pickleball sooner because you’re not on top of each other.”

A step that bringing us one small step closer to a new normal.

We spotted signs at all courts encouraging social distancing, and players say, they’re taking safety precautions.

Armo said they used hand sanitizer as they switched sides every two games.

Cessna added, “At the end of the game, you normally go up and tap knuckles or paddles or whatever and they recommend that you don’t do that so we didn’t today.”

Punta Gorda’s Hounds on Henry Dog Park and Ponce de Leon Beach are also back open.

Social distancing is encouraged there, too.

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