The Malden Recreation Department is thrilled to provide Pickleball as a program since January 2014. Malden Recreation Coordinator, Joe Levine, was approached by local ambassador of the USA Pickleball Association, Peter Sullivan, to introduce this fast growing sport. There are 4.8 million pickleball players in the United States, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and it has made its way to Malden. So, what is Pickleball? Pickleball is a hybrid between tennis, badminton and ping pong. (without the speed.)