The new 35,000 sq.-ft. facility will have 10 courts, a lounge with food and beverage, courtside seating, a pro shop, and more.
Pickleballers will be able to bring their game to the Cataraqui Centre.
A new 10-court pickleball facility is being built inside the shopping mall at the old Sears location.
The courts will be operated by Fairgrounds Public Racquet Club, a Toronto-based company with a number of pickleball courts across Canada.
"Kingston has a robust racket-sport community," says Fairgrounds co-founder Drummond Munro.
"The right mix of audiences -- from seniors to students at Queen’s -- made it a natural fit for our next club."
Munro says the Cataraqui Centre offers a central location with transit access and ample parking so people can play together year-round.
He says the business model focuses on adaptive reuse of underused commercial space.
The new 35,000-sq.-ft. Fairgrounds facility will have a lounge with food and beverage, courtside seating, and a pro shop with premium gear and apparel.
There will also be learn-to-play sessions, small-group clinics, leagues, and private one-on-one lessons.
Fairgrounds are hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the sport. Munro says their philosophy it to offer the fun and benefits of pickleball without the stringent rules, dress codes, and awkward gatekeeping that you see in other clubs or facilities.
The new pickleball courts are expected to open this November.
Story by Ken Hashizume
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