The city’s first indoor trampoline park encourages kids to keep fit while having fun

by Susan Lunny Keag • Photos by Alex Barreto

When Saad Ghazipura was a kid, he moved around a lot, but not for exercise or fun.

“I traveled throughout New York, Atlanta, Georgia…and Pakistan,” Ghazipura said, estimating he moved about a dozen times during his childhood. Each time he did so, it meant starting a new school and often little time to join a sports teamor try a new activity. As a result, Ghazipura would often play video games or read in his free time. He also had many bad habits, including eating heavy foods—both American dishes and an array of Pakistani delicacies.

“A lot of the stuff I ate was heavy and fattening,” he said. “I wasn’t a picky eater at all, so my parents would just put food in front of me. In my culture, that’s a positive quality. They’d say, ‘He eats Good. He’s a good eater.’ ”

Lack of exercise and a poor diet led to a struggle with weight at a young age.

“I was 10 years old and 192 pounds,” he recalled painfully.

Though it was a long road, Ghazipura went on to change his eating and exercise habits and get in shape. He chose to study biochemistry at Stony brook University, and while he seriously contemplated pursuing a career in medicine, decided to explore options as an entrepreneur, including a business that combined health and fitness with fun. Fly High Indoor Trampoline Park in Chelsea did just that.

“My goal with this was to sneak in activity with a lot of fun,” said Ghazipura. “The kids get in the workout, but it doesn’t feel like they’re working out. It just feels like fun.”

New York’s first indoor trampoline park is located in a building formerly (and ironically) occupied by Superior Chocolatier. The business allows kids to jump around on trampolines, play ball, and practice gymnastic moves. The facility, which opened in August next door to Indoor Extreme Sports, offers a freestyle area, along with a Dunk Zone and Flying Foam Pit, and will soon open a bungee component. Fly High also hosts birthday parties and special events. Cost of regular admission is $13 for half an hour, $16 for an hour, and $25 for two hours.

While a lot of teens and tweens are coming in, Ghazipura stressed that younger children are encouraged to join also.

“If you can walk, you can jump,” he said, noting that parents are asked to accompany children throughout the park if they are 6 and under.

The owner said he’s always happy when he sees these youngsters—and happier still to help them develop good habits about exercise. “The younger someone starts [implementing] activity, the better,” he said.

Future plans for the business include a class for children with special needs as well as a nutrition class.

“I’d like to offer the kids an incentive….like one hour of free jumping if they attend the class. They will enjoy that, and the parents will definitely get something out of it,” said Ghazipura, noting he’d also like to team with the Borough President’s office for a health and wellness initiative.

Fly High Indoor Trampoline Park
501 Industry Road / 718.524.6561 / flyhighny.com