Quick answer: Pickleball in Fall River is centered on Kennedy Park off South Main Street, where the city lists four dedicated outdoor pickleball courts that opened in June 2023. They are free and first come, first served. Bicentennial Park on Davol Street and Bristol Community College on Elsbree Street are the bring-your-own-net backups, and the nearest indoor play is at the YMCA in Swansea.
The 30-second version
- Main spot: Kennedy Park, South Main Street. The city lists four pickleball courts there, and it is the only park the city lists for pickleball.
- Cost: free. The city’s park fee schedule only charges for special-event permits ($125 a day), not for showing up to play.
- Backups: Bicentennial Park (800 Davol Street) and Bristol Community College (777 Elsbree Street). Directories say bring your own net at both.
- Tournament: the city and the Fall River Pickleball Group ran the Borden Open at Kennedy Park on July 17 to 19, 2026.
- Questions: Fall River Parks Department, 508-324-2550, 450 Middle Street.
Where can you play pickleball in Fall River?
You can play pickleball in Fall River at Kennedy Park, which is the only park the city lists under “Pickleball Courts” on its Parks Department facilities page. I read that page on October 18, 2026. Two other sites have courts you can use if you bring a net.
| Site | Where | What you get | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Park | South Main Street; courts listed on Bay Street | 4 dedicated pickleball courts, free | City of Fall River |
| Bicentennial Park | 800 Davol Street | 4 tennis courts; bring a net and make your own lines | City (tennis); Herald News and Pickleheads (pickleball) |
| Bristol Community College | 777 Elsbree Street | Permanent lines, bring your own net | Herald News and Pickleheads |
Kennedy Park is the one to aim for. It is a 54-acre park, and the city’s park list puts the pickleball courts alongside three baseball fields, two basketball courts, a softball field, a skating pond and a playground. When the Herald News covered the July 2026 tournament, it placed the Kennedy Park Pickleball Courts on Bay Street.
How many pickleball courts does Kennedy Park have?
The city’s current park list says four, and that is the number I would plan around. The sources have not always agreed, and it is worth knowing why.
- The opening press release said two. The city’s June 5, 2023 release described “two brand new Pickleball courts and two brand new Tennis courts” at the new Kennedy Park complex.
- The Herald News and FRCMedia said four. Both reported four new dedicated pickleball courts at the June 2, 2023 opening. FRCMedia added that the plan allowed four more temporary courts on the tennis courts.
- The city’s park list now says four. The Parks Department’s park locations page lists “four pickleball courts” at Kennedy Park.
- Directories say eight. Pickleheads lists eight outdoor courts, and so does our own court directory, which was imported from it. My guess is that eight counts the temporary courts on the tennis surface, but no city source says so.
Plan on four permanent courts. If the tennis courts are free and someone has a portable net, the group may spread out.
Is pickleball free in Fall River?
Yes. The Herald News describes the Kennedy Park courts as free, and the city’s park fee schedule lists no charge for court play. The only park fees it lists are $125 a day for a special-event permit, $60 per electrical hookup, and $125 a night for other commercial electrical use. So you only pay if you are running an event.
That makes Fall River one of the cheaper places to play in southeastern Massachusetts. If you want to compare, our Massachusetts pickleball hub lists what clubs around the state charge.
How did Fall River get its first pickleball courts?
It took a state park grant and a local organizer. In September 2021 the Baker-Polito administration awarded Fall River $400,000 in PARC grant money for Kennedy Park, according to the Fall River Reporter. The project covered renovating four tennis courts and building what the Reporter called “the city’s first official pickle ball courts.”
- Who built it: the city’s release credits Mayor Paul Coogan, Mike Dion of the Community Development Agency, and the Parks Board. FRCMedia described the $400,000 as coming through the city’s Community Development Agency.
- Who organized play: local organizer Jim Crosson worked with the mayor and the Parks Board on clinics and tournaments, according to the city’s release.
- Opening day: on June 2, 2023, about a dozen people were already playing the first morning the courts opened, the Herald News reported.
If your own town is trying to get courts built, the same state program is covered in our guide to pickleball court grants.
Is there a pickleball tournament in Fall River?
Yes. The Borden Open Pickleball Tournament ran at the Kennedy Park courts from July 17 to 19, 2026. The mayor’s office announced it with the Fall River Pickleball Group, according to the Herald News.
- Divisions: men’s, women’s and mixed.
- Community area: food trucks, local vendors and resource tables, noon to 4:30 p.m. each day.
- Cause: part of the proceeds went to Mae’s Playground, a planned sensory-friendly playground for children of all abilities.
No 2027 date has been announced that I could find. Our Massachusetts tournament calendar is where it will show up when it is.
What do the directories get wrong about Fall River?
The directories get three things wrong about Fall River: the court count, what Bicentennial Park has, and promised courts at Britland Park that the city does not list.
- Court counts. Eight courts at Kennedy Park is the directory number, not the city’s.
- Bicentennial Park. The city lists it as a two-acre park with a boat ramp and four tennis courts. It does not call them pickleball courts. The Herald News, citing Pickleheads, says players make their own lines and bring their own net. Our own directory entry gives a Brownell Street address, but the city’s address is 800 Davol Street.
- Britland Park. In 2023 FRCMedia reported that the city would open more pickleball courts “soon” at Britland Park. The city’s current list shows Britland with basketball, tennis and soccer, but no pickleball. As of October 2026, I can’t find any sign they were built.
Where can you play indoors near Fall River?
The city has no indoor public courts, so winter means a drive or a membership. The Herald News lists pickleball at the Stoico/FIRSTFED YMCA, 271 Sharps Lot Road in Swansea, for members. Directories disagree on whether non-members can drop in, so call the Y before you go.
For more winter options, see our guide to indoor pickleball in Massachusetts and our tips for playing in cold weather.
Where else can you play near Fall River?
Fall River sits on the Rhode Island line, so some of the closest busy courts are across the border.
- Pickleball in Bristol, RI. At the 2023 opening, a USA Pickleball ambassador from Bristol told the Herald News about 800 regular players use the Bristol courts.
- Pickleball in Barrington, RI and pickleball in Providence, to the west.
- Pickleball in Fairhaven, MA and pickleball in Taunton, MA, on the Massachusetts side.
New to the game? Start with our kitchen rules guide and open-play etiquette, and try the Paddle Finder before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the pickleball courts in Fall River, MA?
At Kennedy Park off South Main Street, with the courts listed on Bay Street. The city lists four pickleball courts there. Bicentennial Park and Bristol Community College have courts you can use with your own net.
How many pickleball courts are at Kennedy Park?
The city’s park list says four. The 2023 opening release said two, and directories say eight, which likely counts temporary courts on the tennis surface.
Do you have to pay to play pickleball in Fall River?
No. The Kennedy Park courts are free. The city’s park fees only apply to special-event permits, which cost $125 a day.
When did Fall River open its pickleball courts?
June 2, 2023. The Kennedy Park courts were paid for with a $400,000 state PARC grant that also renovated the tennis courts.
Is there indoor pickleball near Fall River?
Not run by the city. The Stoico/FIRSTFED YMCA at 271 Sharps Lot Road in Swansea offers pickleball for members. Call ahead to confirm the schedule and guest rules.
Sources: City of Fall River Parks Department facilities page, park locations and park fees pages (read October 18, 2026); the city’s June 5, 2023 press release on the Kennedy Park courts; Fall River Reporter (September 27, 2021); FRCMedia (June 6, 2023); and The Herald News (June 2, 2023; August 9, 2024; July 16, 2026). Directory details from Pickleheads are marked as such. Details change, so confirm with the Parks Department at 508-324-2550.
