Indoor pickleball facility under construction in Ybor City

A 28,000-square-foot indoor pickleball facility is under construction and slated to open in early summer in the Gas Worx mixed-use development in Ybor City.

According to a news release, the seven-court venue, located at 1701 E. Second Ave., is being developed by Tampa Pickleball Crew, led by co-founders Susan Forsyth, Jennifer Plummer, Dené Williamson and Kayla Goldman. They say it will be the city’s first indoor establishment solely dedicated to pickleball, which, with more than 36.5 million players in 2022, has become the nation’s fastest-growing sport.

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“We’re thrilled to take the passion of pickleball from retrofitted tennis courts to a custom-built and climate-friendly experience for our athletes,” Goldman states in the release. “Our goal is to create a fun and friendly environment for people of all skill levels to come together, socialize and play.”

Tampa Pickleball Crew, the release states, has repurposed a 70-year-old warehouse for the facility, rather than building from scratch. It will offer a covered and weather-resistant experience with lighting, sound, fenced bays, open and reserved court time, private lessons, clinics and tournaments, corporate/private events and retail. Members will be able to book court time via an app from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Bringing indoor pickleball courts to Ybor seemed like a natural fit,” Gas Worx developer Darryl Shaw states in the release. “The goal is to activate the space with a positive and healthy experience for the entire community.”

The 50-acre Gas Worx project will feature 5,000 new residences, more than 500,000 square feet of office space, in excess of 140,000 square feet of new retail, 3.6 miles of new sidewalks and 1.2 miles of cycling and running trails.

For more information about how to become a founding member of the Tampa Pickleball Crew facility, visit TampaPickleballCrew.com.