Dory Levinter, manager of Pickleball Plus in West Hempstead — one of PSEG Long Island’s Small Business Stars — has helped turn a passion for pickleball into a thriving community hub. With 12 indoor courts and a mission-driven focus, Pickleball Plus combines fun, fitness, and philanthropy — welcoming everyone from beginners to seasoned players to enjoy the fastest-growing sport in America.
What do you love about being in this business/being an owner?
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.
How do you feel your business impacts the local community?
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.
What role do you think small businesses play in promoting energy efficiency within the broader community?
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.
How do you feel about being a Small Business Star?
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.
Visit Pickleball Plus at 525 Eagle Ave, West Hempstead, or visit their website, Instagram or Facebook.
