Brooklyn’s latest pickleball indoor facility, PKLYN, is set to open in Gowanus for year-round indoor pickleball fun on Oct. 6. Brooklyn Paper got a sneak preview of the five-court, 18,000-square-foot facility on Sept. 25.
Even though pickleball has been around for over five decades — it was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — the sport began gaining momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic because it allowed for ample social distancing.
PKLYN founder David Friedman started playing pickleball eight years ago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played pickleball in Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2, where he and his fellow “picklers” transformed the handball courts into pickleball courts.
“It really helped anchor the community,” Friedman said.
Once the weather turned colder and the pickleball craze continued to grow, Friedman, a former real-estate attorney, went on a quest to find a permanent indoor place for Brooklyn’s growing pickleball community.
The combo of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton is the fastest-growing sport in the United States — the number of “picklers” has grown by 223.5% in the last three years, and around 200,000 New York City dwellers play the game that has captured the hearts of all ages.
It took Friedman a few years to find a space that met his vision of combining sports and a place that serves as a social and networking hub for the community.
Friedman fell in “love” with the space at 80 4th St. because it “fit” the Gowanus community.
However, during lease negotiations, it looked like Friedman would lose the commercial space to an event company. So, he became creative and found a singer on Fiverr who rapped Friedman’s text messages about why a pickleball facility was the best fit for the commercial space.
“I had nothing to lose. I was trying to just do something that could seem maybe a little bit creative,” Friedman said. “It definitely got [the landlord’s] attention. I think it helped him believe in the project more.”
His unique approach impressed the landlord; they inked the deal, and construction began in February, turning the former industrial space into a state-of-the-art pickleball club.
The high ceilings provide an open and airy feel, complemented by plenty of natural light, thanks to 25 skylights and plenty of windows.
The walls are painted in dark purple, PKLYN’s brand color. Except for the painting of a pigeon, the company’s logo, no other design elements grace the walls.
“[The walls are] very intentionally left blank because it is for players first and foremost, and where you really don’t have anything interfering with your line of vision,” Friedman explained.
High-end sound paneling solves the loud and high-pitched noise problem pickleball is known for – the average pickleball sound can reach about 70 decibels.
The courts are made of a 6-inch professional-grade asphalt surface, guaranteeing the best pickleball play experience.
“These are real, essentially outdoor tennis courts, so it’s softer,” Friedman explained.
Spectators can cheer on their favorite players from the central mezzanine with ample seating or the bar and lounge area. The full-service bar offers a curated selection of food and drinks from New York-based purveyors, including Italian specialty sandwiches from Alidoro, tap beer from Threes Brewing, and specialty cocktails from Social Hour.
Besides keeping Brooklynites in shape, PKLYN plans to host community events like networking mixers and theme plays. The facility is also available for private events, including partial and full facility rental.
PKLYN is easily accessible by foot, bus, car, and even canoe via the Gowanus Canal and offers clinics and private and group lessons for pickle players of all ages and skill levels. Court reservations are $110 an hour for non-members.
For the best “pickling” experience, players can join the membership program for $100 a month. Membership perks include early registration for classes, leagues, tournaments, drop-in-play, and a free 2-hour members-only open play every month. PKLYN members also receive a 10% discount on classes, private lessons, hourly court reservations, and all PKLYN merch.
