Pickleball, a mix of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is trending, and luxury real estate developers are racing to keep up.
About 4.8 million people play it, according to USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body. The game can range from a social activity to play with the kids to a fast-paced competitive match.
“Everyone calls pickle ball equally great,” said Matt Nixon, chief marketing officer of Southworth Development. “You can be 10 years old, 12 years old, and you play with anyone at any age.” For Abaco Club, a project owned by Southworth in the Bahamas, he said, recreational activity serves as a major channel for community building around health, wellness and enjoyment of sport.
For some buyers who are downsizing from country club neighborhoods, baseball is already an everyday pastime. They are drawn to the courts on the site because it gives them a sense of belonging to the community close to home.
morePatio homes for $10 million and up
“Buyers definitely ask about pickle ball,” said Wendy Pines, director of sales at Casamar Residences, which starts at $1.5 million, in Pompano Beach, Florida. “They are excited that we are going to have it on the property and it appeals to people of all ages. It has become a popular social activity where people can come together and gather. A lot of people play doubles, like in tennis. You always have people waiting to jump into the game. It has become that popular”.
Casamar Residences
Since blackpool is for all ages, many types of properties can benefit from offering playgrounds as part of their amenities packages. Far from stripped public park facilities, pickle ball courts have featured in luxury coast-to-coast developments with thoughtful touches including plush seating and branded equipment.
“Whether it’s a retirement community, a majorly planned residential development with a variety of product types for different ages and demographics or a private club, you name it, they add pickle[ball]said Mary Cook, a Chicago-based designer who specializes in multiple family developments and amenities.
New Pickleball Courts Case
They require more than just a badminton-sized court, 34-inch net, paddles, and a plastic perforated ball, making pickleball easier to accommodate than other common amenities, such as golf courses, swimming pools, or bowling alleys. Developers pull all the stops, often pairing the leisure activity with cocktail bars and other socially minded extras.
In Miami, Standard Residences has chosen to design an indoor playground that can be converted into a party room. Giant disco balls will spin from the ceiling, while spectators and players can dress up in branded clothing and paddles in the style of Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums.” The building, with pieds-a-terre offered in the mid-$700,000, is expected to be completed in 2023.
The Standard Residences, Midtown Miami
“We were thinking about what kind of sport we could put in the building without affecting the people there. If you put it in a paddle[ball] “Or bowling, it can get very noisy and that becomes a problem,” said Carlos Rosso, CEO of Rosso Development, the company behind Standard Residences. “We have a karaoke bar that bleeds into the pickle ball court area, so the whole scene would be a really nice way to liven up the building.”
In the Bahamas, the Abaco Club has transformed an entirely underutilized area into pickle ball courts and a basketball half field. The light blue playgrounds lie along a quiet palm tree-lined path a stone’s throw from the beach. The lights illuminate the evening matches. Cottages in the Caribbean are priced at $3 million, and villas are expected to fetch up to $12 million.
moreMother’s Day gifts for the proud mother
Abaco Club
“It opened up the whole area and changed the dynamic,” said Matt Young, Abaco Club’s director of outdoor activities. “Plans are underway to build an outlet of some sort, with a coffee stand in the morning where people can sit and watch a pickle ball or have a cup of coffee between games.”
In the evening, players and spectators will be able to have a beer or a cocktail while enjoying the game.
Take advantage of the existing tennis and basketball courts
Before installing custom pitches, luxury-goods developers can try out Blackpool at their facilities for a fraction of the price. They can add lines to existing tennis and basketball courts and put up temporary nets.
Club Abaco gauged residents’ interest in the game by adding lines to the tennis court before committing to smaller courts. Optima Inc. Residential Development, which owns properties in Scottsdale, Arizona and Chicago, has done the same by drawing lines on indoor basketball courts.
“The requirements are similar to those for an indoor basketball court, so it was an easy addition,” said David Hovey, Jr., president of the AIA, president, chief operating officer and chief engineer of Optima, Inc.
more: Whether in the garden or on the windowsill, these high-tech gardening accessories will help your plants thrive
To meet the demand, they planned to create an outdoor pickle ball court in their upcoming luxury condominium tower, 7190 Optima Kierland. The 216-unit tower is scheduled to open in 2023 in Scottsdale, with prices ranging from $1.75 million to $3.25 million. “We are excited to build the resident programs around this newest feature, and potentially host a tournament,” said Mr. Hovey.
Optima
Take it to the next level with lessons and guidance
Coaches, who act as ambassadors for the sport, can drum up excitement for residents, organize tournaments, and take time to the next level. The coaches are usually experienced racket players and natural community organizers.
Fun Pop is our resident tennis and pickleball player. He participates in all the lessons, and hosts tournaments on a weekly basis,” said Mr. Young. “He’s also in the community program; he’s a great guy and our members love him. He’s a great tennis player and pickle baller, and sometimes his phone calls are questionable, so you have to keep an eye on that.”
Celebrities can also add more excitement about the sport. “We want to bring famous artists to the opening of the Blackpool stadium,” said Mr. Russo. “I don’t know if you know, but Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, and even Kim Kardashian have pickle courts in their homes. Maybe we can get them to play doubles.”
more: With working from home prevalent across Australia, two are better than one when it comes to home offices
Rest from the elements – and the spectators
If you’re not indoors, the courts require a less windy location than tennis due to the lighter weight of the perforated plastic ball in play. Even if the court is surrounded by lush tropical palm trees and cabanas, getting too close to the ocean winds can really kick off the fun of the game.
“We took into account the location because you don’t want to have a lot of wind involved with such a light ball. Building winds from the ocean,” Ms. Pines said of Casamar Stadium planned close to the ocean in Pompano Beach.
It is common for people to watch matches while waiting for their time in the stadium. Luxury developers take this into account, building cabanas and café structures to support everyone who gathers around the sport.
Ms Baines said the goal was to make the pickle ball court “a very inviting area with shade and seating for spectators, along with a summer kitchen, so that it could be more of an event rather than a pickle alone”.
more: Homes with wild, family-friendly features ensure your kids never get bored
