Pickleball Plus Community Impact: Pickleball Plus, located in West Hempstead, New York, has become a popular spot for pickleball fans. The indoor facility, managed by Dory Levinter, has 12 courts and serves players of all ages and skill levels. It was recently recognized by PSEG Long Island as a Small Business Star for its positive impact on the local community. The facility is known for its welcoming environment, focus on fun and fitness, and its commitment to giving back.
Growing the Sport and Community
Pickleball Plus offers more than just games. It provides lessons, leagues, a junior academy for kids as young as 7, and even hosts tournaments and special events. Dory Levinter has helped lead the business from the start and has seen how the sport has grown.
“As manager of Pickleball Plus from day one, I love seeing our members go from being complete newcomers to pickleball to experienced players who love the sport and come back again and again to have fun, meet new friends and improve their play. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country for a reason — it’s great exercise, it’s very social and it can be enjoyed by anyone. I love being a part of growing the game,” said Dory Levinter.
Helping the Local Area
The business works with community groups across West Hempstead, Long Island, and nearby areas. They host free pickleball classes for local kids, fundraisers for groups like Tunnel to Towers, the MAC Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association, and offer scholarships for young players.
“We are proud that with our 12 indoor, tournament-sanctioned courts we are able to offer our community everything from lessons and leagues for adults, a junior academy for ages 7 and up, tournaments, special events and much more. We work closely with local community organizations here in West Hempstead and throughout Long Island, the five boroughs and the region to provide programming and opportunities to use our facility and resources for good causes. Every year we run free ‘intro to pickleball’ classes for Town of Hempstead kids at Newbridge Park. We’ve hosted fundraisers for community organizations such as Tunnel to Towers, the MAC Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association/Pickleball for POP and the Family & Children’s Association. We host schools and summer camps, provide scholarships for junior players, collect canned food and warm socks for local shelters and more. We also run teambuilding programs for school districts and local companies,” said Dory Levinter.
Saving Energy and Improving Play
The facility also focuses on energy efficiency. When they rebuilt the space, they switched to LED lighting. This helped lower energy use and gave better lighting on the courts.
“One of the first things we did when we rebuilt this facility was to convert all of the lighting to LED, which is not only energy efficient but also provides the perfect lighting profile on our tournament-sanctioned courts. Our players appreciate that our lighting makes it easy to see and track the balls with no shadows or dark spots,” said Dory Levinter.
Local Recognition and Pride
Pickleball Plus has earned praise for its work. It has won “Best of Long Island” for pickleball twice and is proud to be among PSEG Long Island’s Small Business Stars.
“We were excited to be nominated as a Small Business Star just as we were proud to be named Best Of Long Island for Pickleball twice, including being the first to receive that honor,” said Dory Levinter.
Making a Lasting Impact
Pickleball Plus has become more than a place to play. It brings people together and supports the community in many ways. By offering programs for all ages, helping local causes, and running an energy-smart facility, the business shows how sports can be a force for good.
News in Brief: Pickleball Plus Community Impact
Pickleball Plus in West Hempstead was named a Small Business Star by PSEG Long Island. Led by Dory Levinter, it offers 12 indoor courts, lessons, youth programs, and community fundraisers. The business also focuses on energy-saving LED lighting and continues to grow as a welcoming space for pickleball lovers.
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