Broome County pickleball players push for more indoor, outdoor courts

On a cloudy Friday morning in late June, over a dozen people fill the tennis courts at MacArthur Park on the South Side of Binghamton.

They set down their gym bags, pull out vibrant yellow balls and stick the ends of their rectangular paddles into the metal fence surrounding the courts.

Four people can play at a time, so they take turns filling the courts as those on the sidelines converse about their families, sharing stories about their week and tips on how to improve their game.

Today, one court is taken up by someone working on their tennis skills but most days, all four courts stand empty.

During these early morning hours, pickleball players, typically 60 years of age or older, come from all over the Binghamton area to play on these courts.

One obstacle stands in their way, though.

There just aren’t enough dedicated courts to accommodate the sport’s booming popularity.

The rise of pickleball in Broome County

Broome County’s Office for Aging Coordinator for Health and Wellness, Mary Jane Lawrence, said she has received more calls about pickleball this year than in years past.

And Julie Yanuzzi, a local pickleball player, says there are upwards of 30 people gathered on the courts on the busiest days, which are typically holidays and weekends.

The sport is ideal for senior citizens because it’s easier on the joints, Lawrence said, and it’s a way for people to get together and socialize.

“No more sitting on the couch eating bon bons and watching Oprah,” said Zorano “Z” Tubo, a pickleball player and instructor. “Grandmothers and grandfathers, they’re doing this.”

The sport only requires a paddle and a plastic ball that resembles a whiffleball. It’s also accessible; someone walking by can join in. Yanuzzi and her group keep an extra paddle lying around just in case.

Pickleball has even become part of the Empire State Senior Games, where Chun “CK” Lim, 87, brought home gold in mixed doubles with his wife, Soon, 84, and silver in men’s doubles at SUNY Cortland in June.

“A little…