Play ‘A New, Growing Sport’ at the Erie Canal Pickleball Center

Pickleball has taken the country by storm—and Central New York is no exception.

Three and a half years ago, there were 500 or fewer players in the area, according to Brook Bregman, who runs CNY Pickleball. That number has since grown to more than 5,500.

Enter Bill Cleary and the Erie Canal Pickleball Center.

“Pickleball is a new, growing sport, and we have a huge deficit of indoor dedicated courses in the area,” said Bregman, also a volunteer at the facility. “He wanted to fill that need.”

Inside the Erie Canal Pickleball Center, you’ll find nine individually fenced courts, locker rooms, and a bar and restaurant—plus murals of the Old Erie Canal (the facility is located on the site of the former waterway).

“This sport is for all ages,” said Bregman. “There are youth classes, there are 65 plus groups, and then the majority of the time, every age group plays together.”

So, what exactly is pickleball?

“It’s a combination of tennis, ping pong, racquetball, and badminton—any paddle sport or racquet sport you’ve ever played,” said Bregman. “It’s generally a doubles sport, played on a court smaller than a tennis court. It’s an easy sport to get into.”

If you’re new to pickleball, getting started at the Erie Canal Pickleball Center is easy, too; all you need is a change of shoes (the ones you wear inside aren’t allowed on the court). Paddles and balls are available for purchase or rent, but you’re also welcome to bring your own. You don’t even need a partner!

“Every person that comes to play alone switches partners every single game, rotating with all the other people who show up,” said Bregman. “It’s called open play, and it’s just like pickup basketball…The community is really welcoming, and they all get to know each other and have a great time.