A Broadway business is bringing pickleball to the streets of Midtown in an effort to bring more young people into the sport and raise awareness about mental health. Rewind Kingston’s “Pop Up Pickleball” program will kick off Wednesday with free lessons from 6-8 p.m. on Field Court in Kingston.

Located around the corner from the dead-end Field Court at 612 Broadway, Rewind Kingston is a vintage store that sells an eclectic blend of clothes, books and décor. It’s also a business with a mission. Owners Joanne and Kevin Flood lost their daughter Cassidy at age 20 after she struggled with mental health issues. Now, the store donates 10 percent of all proceeds to mental health charities while operating as a welcoming “safe space” for the local youth who form their customer base.

Joanne Flood said her family — with encouragement from her brother, local Pickleball instructor Peter Van Loan — turned to the sport to help overcome their grief. Now, Flood said she wants to bring that kind of healing energy to the streets of Midtown.

“This is part of our whole thing which all relates to my daughter and promoting mental health and helping anybody who might be struggling,” said Flood.

Pickleball, a tennis-like sport played with a hollow plastic ball, goes back to the 1960s but surged in popularity during the pandemic, when it emerged a socially distanced way to get out and mingle. The conventions of the game in which players lay down their paddle to stake out a game against the winner of the current match, encourages community and making new friends — both key elements of mental health, Flood said. Popular among older adults, Flood said the game also offers opportunities for making intergenerational connections. She added that the Pop Up Pickleball program was open to all but is geared towards high-school students and young adults to try to bring more young people into the Pickleball community.

“When my daughter Sydney, who’s 20, goes to play [pickleball] there’s all of these people in their 60s and 70s that she knows waving and saying hello to her,” said Flood. “It’s great when you mix up those generations because they have so much to learn from each other.”

Pop Up Pickleball will kick off on Wednesday, July 24 with free lessons by Van Loan. Lessons will continue on July 31 while weekly outdoor matches open to all will take place on Aug. 21 and 28 and Sept. 4. There are a limited number of paddles and other equipment available for loan to beginners.

“I am thrilled to see this community effort coming together for a free, fun activity in Midtown Kingston, all for a great cause,” said Mayor Steve Noble who approved Flood’s request to close Field Court for the events. “The Flood family have created a true community space and have generously volunteered their time and energy to support this community. I applaud them for this wonderful endeavor.”