SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse Indoor Pickleball is quickly becoming a hub for pickleball enthusiasts in Central New York. Managing partner Josh Pinard, a longtime player, saw an opportunity to create a dedicated space for the sport. Since its opening in July, the facility has been embraced by a passionate and growing community.
“The community, I cannot overstate how important they’ve been with embracing us,” Pinard said. “Everything we do is for them. The game is really growing, which has been fantastic. We’re getting people who are brand new to people who have been playing for years – we’re really excited about the overall trajectory of pickleball.”
Pinard’s emphasis on community is evident in every aspect of SIP. More than just a place to play, the facility has become a gathering spot where players form friendships and support each other on and off the court.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse pickleball community growing quickly
Riley Hudson: Welcome back to NCC News Online, whether it’s your favorite pastime or you’ve only just heard about the craze, pickleball has been the talk since the pandemic. Mo Holtzman has more on how Central New York has adapted to it’s boom in popularity.
Maurice Holtzman: Yeah, thank you Riley, I’m here at the Barnes Center at Syracuse University where these basketball courts behind me are every once in a while changed into pickleball courts. But for those who don’t want to wait for the nets to go up here, there has been an indoor private facility opened in Baldwinsville, New York that pickleball fans would love to check out.
I spent the morning at Syracuse Indoor Pickleball and got the grand tour from managing partner Josh Pinard. He’s been playing pickleball with his friends for years and felt that the Syracuse area could use a few designated courts for the rapidly growing sport.
Josh Pinard: The community, I cannot overstate how important they’ve been with like embracing us. Everything we do is for them, the game is really growing which has been fantastic. We’re getting people who are brand new to people who have been playing for years – we’re really excited about the overall trajectory of pickleball.
Holtzman: And Josh hit on a crucial note here – it is the community that is so apparent at SIP. And while I couldn’t get in on the game today, I was a little bit busy doing something else, I was able to talk to one of the founding members who has been here since day one.
Patti Kick: What I didn’t expect to find is the type of community and family that you find here, and I’ve met a whole bunch of women now that I really call good friends, so it’s become a great place to come.
Holtzman: Patti told me that she’s at the facility four or five times every week, with her founding member status giving her unlimited reign of the four courts offered. She and her husband are two of the 300+ members that have enjoyed SIP since they opened in July, and experience manager Alicia Gray is someone who helps cultivate the energy that keeps them coming back.
Alicia Gray: I just had a great conversation with a member the other day, and they also came here because they were looking for a community – they were new to the area, they wanted to meet people with similar interests, and I feel like that’s what I found, a community of people who love the same sport as me so it’s great.
Holtzman: Yeah I know just for me personally my mom has become a huge pickleball fan in the recent months and loves the facility that we have back in Rhode Island that is very similar to this one. For NCC News, I’m Maurice Holtzman – back to you Riley.
Hudson: Thank you Mo, I need to get down there soon and test out my skills, but I’m pretty sure they’re nonexistent.
One of SIP’s founding members, Patti Kick, has been playing at the facility since day one. For her, the experience has been about more than just the game – it’s about the relationships she’s built along the way.
“What I didn’t expect to find is the type of community and family that you find here,” Kick shared. “I’ve met a whole bunch of women now that I really call good friends, so it’s become a great place to come.”
Kick and her husband are two of more than 300 members who have taken advantage of SIP’s four designated courts. With pickleball’s increasing popularity, the facility has provided a much-needed space for players of all skill levels to come together.
Alicia Gray, SIP’s experience manager, plays a key role in fostering the welcoming atmosphere that keeps members engaged. She sees firsthand how the facility helps people connect through a shared passion for pickleball.
“I just had a great conversation with a member the other day, and they also came here because they were looking for a community,” Gray said. “They were new to the area. They wanted to meet people with similar interests, and I feel like that’s what I found – a community of people who love the same sport as me, so it’s great.”
As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, SIP is proving to be more than just a sports facility—it’s a place where people come to play, connect and build lasting relationships. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, SIP offers a welcoming environment for all who step onto its courts.