Indoor Pickleball Court Wins Approval In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Picklr is coming to Newtown. And it's promising to bring "an unparalleled pickleball experience" to local players.

On Wednesday, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors granted the Utah-based company conditional use approval to convert the former Bed, Bath & Beyond store next to Staples into an indoor state-of-the-art Pickleball Club.

Plans call for the redevelopment of the 30,000-square-foot store at 20 West Road into an 11-court indoor playing facility that would be membership-only.

The new facility, the first for The Picklr in Pennsylvania and in Bucks County with plans to expand throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, will offer professional-grade surfacing, a pro shop, private event space, league play, tournaments and drop-in play, court reservations, locker rooms, and showers.

Bucks County land use and zoning attorney Mark Meginniss, who represented The Picklr at this week's meeting of the board of supervisors, said the proposed use "is perfect for this location. It is also located in the area of the shopping center that is the least heavily trafficked," he said.

At maximum event capacity, four doubles games could be taking place with 48 players on the courts at any given time, said Meginniss. “That is a circumstance when every court is filled simultaneously.”

The new facility would have two to four employees per shift with peak hours of operation from 6 to 10 a.m. and from 6 to 10 p.m.

The facility will operate on a monthly membership fee of between $119 and $129 with players booking court time by the hour. The facility would operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight.

"The reality is this is a vacant big box in the shopping center. This is a better use, both for the shopping center and for other tenants, but also for the township,” said Meginniss.

The vacant storefront is part of the Newtown Shopping Center, which is anchored by Acme and Staples and is managed by the Palladino Development Group. The center is also home to a Chick-Fil-A, a TD Bank and the Blue Point Grill.

According to its website, "At The Picklr, pickleball is more than just a sport; it's a lifestyle that fosters community, competition, and fun. With nearly 200 state-of-the-art clubs, professional coaching, and a vibrant atmosphere, The Picklr offers an unparalleled pickleball experience for players of all skill levels."

Last fall The Picklr launched a major expansion across the United States with 80 new locations opening in nearly a dozen states. Additional sites are also being planned in Bucks County and in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Indoor pickleball courts are popping up all across the country opening inside vacant retail stores and malls as the sport continues to grow in popularity.

Jorge Barragan opened the first indoor Picklr in 2021. Today The Picklr is partners with Pickleball Inc., Super Bowl Champion Drew Brees, and has more than 275 locations across America with plans to go international.