Open Squash Announces Two New Community Squash Center Locations in New York City

New York, NY — April 28, 2022 — Open Squash, a New York-based nonprofit on a mission to make the game of squash more accessible and affordable to everyone, has announced the expansion of the organization with two new locations: 100 Pearl Street in lower Manhattan and 43 Clark Street in Brooklyn Heights. Open Squash plans to open the 100 Pearl Street location in the first half of 2023, with the Brooklyn Heights location to follow in 2024.

Between the three locations, Open Squash hopes to bring hundreds of new players into the game. The news of Open Squash’s expansion comes on the heels of the organization’s most successful month to date, having signed more new members in March 2022 than any other month since its opening in 2019.

The Pearl Street location will be an 8-court facility including a glass show court fully equipped for televised pro tournaments. Like its sister location on West 39th Street in midtown Manhattan, the Pearl Street location will provide an array of junior and adult squash programming taught by top-level coaches (including clinics, camps, leagues and round robins), as well fitness facilities, locker rooms and a cafe bar. The Pearl Street location will also further the Open Squash mission by offering income-based discounts for low-income members as well as need-based scholarships for juniors.

The Brooklyn Heights location is currently home to Corner Squash and the Eastern Athletic Club, and for years has had a vibrant squash community that Open Squash very much hopes to support and grow. The plan is to begin renovation of the courts there in 2023, creating another full-service community squash center with at least 9 state-of-the-art squash courts – and to manage the renovation with the least amount of disruption possible to the existing community.

“To have an organization like Open Squash developing state-of-the-art squash facilities accessible to everyone demonstrates their commitment to their mission and growing the community of squash players — in NYC and around the world,” said World #2 Ali Farag, a member of the Open Squash Touring Pro Program. “I can’t wait to make regular visits to all 3 locations and help support the mission whenever I can.”

“The expansion of our Open Squash facilities speaks directly to the type of organization we are building — one that makes the sport of squash, and our special focus on community, fitness and fun, available to all regardless of income,” says Cleve Miller, Executive Director of Open Squash. “We couldn’t be more excited with this next stage of our growth.”

Last week, Open Squash announced Victor Crouin joined its Touring Pro Program, created to provide support to touring squash professionals who want to give back to the sport by helping Open Squash build a thriving squash community open to all. Previously announced members of the program include Farag, World #9 Gina Kennedy, World #35 Nathan Lake and World #42 Haley Mendez.

Open Squash is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to expanding the sport of squash by building community and making it more accessible to the public. A significant number of its members pay discounted rates based on income, and scholarships are broadly available to juniors to participate in Open Squash’s youth programs. As noted, Open Squash’s first facility is a state-of-the-art 5-court squash center in midtown Manhattan and has plans in place to expand to other locations. Open Squash also has a partnership with the afterschool program of Hudson Guild, a Chelsea-based non-profit that provides a range of social services to the low-income residents of the neighborhood. Through the partnership, the Hudson Guild students come to the center to learn the game and develop the important life skills that come along with playing the sport.

Leigh Harmon
leigh@ottoandfriends.com