Temporary pickleball courts have been introduced at Lincoln Yards, offering the public a chance to engage in this popular sport from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day until November 15th.
Community Engagement
Sterling Bay, a prominent real estate development firm, has teamed up with Big City Pickle to establish 11 publicly accessible courts within the expansive Lincoln Park mega-development.
CEO Andy Gloor of Sterling Bay shared that the decision to introduce pickleball courts is aligned with the company’s commitment to fostering community engagement at Lincoln Yards.
Sterling Bay CEO Andy Gloor said the following in a recent press release:
“Sterling Bay has decided to expand its commitment to community play at Lincoln Yards by delivering pickleball courts while we work to bring the site’s permanent parks and recreational spaces to life,”
An Opportunity For Diverse Groups
Collaborating with local organizations like Big City Pickle, Sterling Bay envisions Lincoln Yards as a hub of opportunity for diverse groups, including business owners and sports enthusiasts.
Situated at the intersection of Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Lincoln Park, Sterling Bay’s ongoing $6 billion, 53-acre Lincoln Yards development is taking shape.
The new pickleball courts stand adjacent to Fleet Fields, a location that has witnessed substantial footfall over the past four years.
Indeed, Gloor said a major reason for the construction of the courts was that “tens of thousands of Chicagoans” had used those soccer fields in the last four years.
A Strong Demand For Pickleball
Big City Pickle, a partnership between the Chicago Sports & Social Club and We Love Pop Ups, already operates 30 courts across three Chicago locations: Fulton Market, Goose Island, and Gold Coast.
This expansion is driven by a strong demand for pickleball courts in the city, with 17 additional courts planned by the Chicago Park District.
Lighting For Evening Play
Highlighting the growing popularity of pickleball, founder Marc Bortz of Big City Pickle expressed eagerness to expand facilities across the city further.
“The demand for pickleball courts in Chicago is not slowing down. We’re eager to open more facilities across the city, and popping up at Lincoln Yards allows us to piggyback on the success of Fleet Fields, meeting active Chicagoans where they’re at.”
The Lincoln Yards courts are equipped with lighting for evening play, and reservations and private events can be arranged through chicagocitypickle.com.
For more information, refer to the @chicagopickle Instagram page, where additional details are available.
