Move over, Barclays!
PKLYN, located at 80 4th St. In Brooklyn, New York is set to open, Summer 2024. The pickleball facility, an 18K sq. ft. space in the heart of Gowanus, Brooklyn is currently under renovation. Featuring 23-ft. high ceilings, exposed brick, and over 20 skylights, the aesthetics appear on track to impress.
“Finding the perfect location for PKLYN came down to the quality of the space and the neighbourhood and we feel really fortunate that we got exactly what we were looking for in both regards,” said PKLYN Founder and CEO, David Friedman. “For the space itself, we needed somewhere with good column spacing, high ceilings, the basic requirements of the sport, but we also wanted it to feel like a place you’d really want to hang out in…We knew we wanted something that felt light and airy, and that met all the requirements for maneuverability and playability.”
Designed to be an inclusive, state-of-the-art destination, fostering community and quality play for competitive and casual players alike, PKLYN will feature five indoor courts, plus a dink court, all with player-friendly layouts (read: lots of room to maneuver), a full bar, as well as lounge areas.
“Of course, you can find the perfect building, but if it’s not well-located, that’s a big problem,” added Friedman. “Personally, I just love Gowanus. I’ve been a local to the neighbourhood for years, so I’ve seen all the development that’s been going on there. And it felt like the perfect spot relative to where our pickleball community lives, works, and plays already. So finding the perfect building in the perfect location, it was really only ever this spot that really clicked for me.”
Rather than traditional “eatertainment,” the PKLYN crew is envisioning a social hangout and pickleball club—serving drinks and snacks provided by partnerships with local vendors. The team views this as the best way to focus on their core business while provide an incredible experience to everyone who walks through the PKLYN doors.
“This is such a versatile sport that offers lots of different ways to enjoy oneself and get something out of it,” concluded Friedman. “So we hope that our contribution to the local culture of pickleball is one that makes it easier and more enjoyable to take advantage of all that pickleball can be in your life. It’s connective, it’s competitive, it’s social — it’s really a special game, and it deserves spaces like PKLYN that will elevate the experience.”
Learn more at pklyn.com.