Centerline opens its doors

Centerline Pickleball Club celebrated its grand opening last Saturday at its new facility in Warwick, which opened its doors to the public last month.

The state’s latest pickleball facility offers eight new courts along with a private function room for gatherings and boasts an experienced group of certified coaches to guide players of all skill levels as they learn the sport and develop their skills.

Centerline Pickleball Club offers multiple membership options, which provide members with advantages such as free open play, discounts on rentals as well as discounts on leagues and clinics. Non-members are also welcome to join free play.

The facility also hosts birthday parties, corporate team building and private events. Centerline also has its own pro shop and lounge area. 

Rhode Island has seen its pickleball community flourish in recent years and it is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the world with 60 countries playing. The Centerline team, led by owner Gary Bucci, was thrilled to finally see its dream come to fruition and welcome locals to join what is now the state’s largest indoor pickleball facility with over 22,000 square feet of space.

“The road getting here was choppy, bumpy, long, but we made it and we’re very grateful for that. We are extremely proud of our facility. The chance to open this business trumped all others and our clients have been incredible,” said Bucci to the crowd on Saturday, which included members and local dignitaries including Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi and Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins. “Our members have been so respectful, appreciative, and so enjoyable to be around. Our goal is to continue to make our facility warm and friendly so the word gets out. This is how we hope to continue to build and prosper at Centerline Pickleball.”

Picozzi was also excited to see his city offer a state-of-the-art pickleball complex and provide residents the chance to get involved in the sport.

“When I became mayor four years ago, our parks and recreation director came to me and said ‘there’s a great demand for pickleball,’ and I looked her in the eye and said, ‘what the hell’s a pickleball,’ Picozzi joked. “Then I learned it’s the fastest growing sport in the state and the country.”

“Approximately 50 million Americans this past year played pickleball at least once. That tells you the growth of this great sport and how popular it is becoming in the country. It serves all members of our population,” added Dennis DeJesus, who also said that 33 percent of players were over the age of 65.

As Centerline Pickleball settles in on the Warwick-Cranston border, Bucci looks forward to building a community while continuing to introduce the game to the Ocean State.

“Pickleball is the most social sport on earth,” said Bucci. “When I look at the courts at 5:30 on any given day and see all the activity in this place, it is truly heartwarming.”

Centerline Pickleball is located at 33 Lambert Lind Highway in Warwick, right on the Cranston line. The club’s website is centerlinepickleballclub.com and it can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.