The three Connecticut towns of Cromwell, West Hartford, and Glastonbury have recently made additions to their pickleball court offerings. However, a fourth town, Middletown, may be about to receive a pickleball facility that outshines them all.
Twelve Indoor Courts
The proposal for the substantial privately operated complex features a combination of indoor and outdoor courts.
The City of Middletown (not to be confused with Middletown, Ohio) has released a promotional flier entitled “Pickleball Park Connecticut,” describing a 20-court dedicated pickleball recreational facility with 12 indoor courts, a clubhouse with a social area, event space, daycare, and locker rooms.”
The development will also feature eight more courts sheltered under a translucent fabric roof, allowing for rain-free play outdoors, with temperatures 15 degrees cooler than unsheltered outdoor courts exposed to sweltering summer conditions.
Moreover, the courts will be fully enclosed for winter play, maintained at a nominal temperature of 60 degrees.
Zoning Permit Application
The Hartford Courant reports that Middletown-based Tall Properties LLC is applying for the zoning permit for the project, which the Town Planning and Zoning Commission will review at a hearing this week.
Leonard Leibenhaut, a principal in Centerpoint Management Co., is listed on town zoning forms as the representative of Tall Properties. Tall Properties suggests developing a complex along Centerpoint Drive, positioned between Industrial Park Road and I-91.
The proposed project comprises a building spanning approximately 42,200 square feet, along with an additional 18,200 square feet of space that would have a roof but remain unenclosed.
A 28-Court Pickleball Facility
This summer, a 28-court pickleball facility was inaugurated at the Stamford Town Center in Fairfield County, marking one of the few indoor centers in Connecticut. Most municipally managed facilities offer outdoor courts, catering primarily to town residents.
Glastonbury, for example, unveiled four pickleball courts in July at the Riverfront Community Center, with plans for a dedication ceremony featuring state representatives and other speakers scheduled for September 19.
Similarly, communities like West Hartford, Cromwell, Southington, and South Windsor are among the numerous others that have either constructed new outdoor courts or repurposed existing tennis courts for this new purpose.
Grab your paddle: Here are 60+ pickleball courts in Connecticut https://t.co/k5YshP936q
— Connecticut Post (@connpost) July 13, 2023
138 Courts In Connecticut
According to Pickleheads, an organization that maintains a nationwide directory of pickleball courts, 138 public, free-to-use courts are spread across about 65 towns and cities in Connecticut.
This figure excludes private pay-to-play facilities like the one at the Stamford Mall. It also fails to take into account another private indoor project proposed by the company that transformed the former Marriott hotel in Farmington into apartments.
Extraordinary Growth
Tall Properties asserts that having 20 courts at the Middletown facility will establish it as a significant landmark. The company stated, “It will enable the hosting of the Pickleball Masters and the Nutmeg Tournaments, which require 20 courts. The extraordinary growth of pickleball has challenged communities to meet the demand for more and more courts.”
Pickleheads reports that there are now public courts in all 50 states, along with Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. In addition to the 138 courts in Connecticut, New England offers 42 in Rhode Island, 94 in Vermont, 349 in Massachusetts, 142 in Maine, and 87 in New Hampshire.
