Minnesota Indoor Pickleball Expansion: The popularity of indoor pickleball is growing fast in Minnesota’s south and east metro areas. New facilities are planned for Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Woodbury. Developers and city leaders are supporting this expansion as the sport continues to gain fans of all ages.
Large Facility Planned in Apple Valley
Markid II Properties LLC is planning a major indoor pickleball center in Apple Valley. The proposed 56,500-square-foot building would have 18 courts and a food and beer hall. The site is located at the northeast corner of 153rd Street and Garrett Avenue.
At a July 2 meeting, Apple Valley City Planner Terri Dill said the city council will review the plan on August 14. The planning commission has already recommended approval.
Developer Randy Motilall said,
“This is going to be a standalone in Apple Valley. There are other similar facilities around the Twin Cities, mainly north side — Maple Grove, Minneapolis, in those areas — but there’s nothing on the south side at the moment.”
Design Details and Construction Timeline
Randy Motilall said the facility will offer more court space than most places, which usually have 12 to 14 courts. The added courts will help more people play throughout the year. The restaurant will feature four food vendors.
The building’s east side will have two floors, including a pro shop, office space, food vendors, and a beer hall. There will be outdoor patios on the east and south. The upper floor will provide more food choices and seating with views of the courts.
According to Apple Valley City Planner Terri Dill, the building will feature precast wall panels, exposed brick, wood, and metal accents. Large glass windows will be added on the east and south sides.
Nate Golin of 10K Architecture explained,
“One of the advantages of the precast wall panels that we’ll be using around the pickleball courts is that those provide quite a bit of density and will be quite sound deadening.”
Motilall said they aim to open by December.
“If everything goes through correctly, we can break ground as soon as possible. That would be ideal. And all the people that are clamoring to play in the winter have somewhere to go.”
Lakeville Plans Round-the-Clock Pickleball Access
In late June, Lakeville’s Planning Commission recommended a permit for a 42,000-square-foot indoor pickleball facility. It will be part of a 190,000-square-foot building at 21300 Juniper Way. The Lakeville City Council reviewed the permit on July 7.
Laurent Deconinck is leading the project, named Pickle in the Middle. The plan includes 24/7 building access using a four-digit entry code. No food or drinks will be sold onsite.
There are already Pickle in the Middle locations in Brooklyn Park and Lake Elmo.
New Club Coming to Woodbury
In Woodbury, the planning commission has backed a plan for a new pickleball club inside a 65,419-square-foot building at 390 Commerce Drive. The club will use 22,000 square feet and operate from 6 a.m. to midnight.
The city council will review the proposal on July 14. The plan was submitted by S&F Corporation.
Planning commission student member Adrina Ngaling said,
“After school, I usually go to the YMCA, and … every time the gym is reserved for pickleball, it’s always packed. So I just think it’s going to be a really good idea.”
Why It Matters
These projects show how fast pickleball is growing. With indoor facilities open year-round, more people can enjoy the sport. The plans also show that cities see pickleball as a valuable part of community life. If successful, these locations could lead to even more development across the region.
News in Brief: Minnesota Indoor Pickleball Expansion
Indoor pickleball is booming in Minnesota, with new facilities planned in Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Woodbury. These projects offer year-round access, modern design, and more court space. Local leaders and residents support the growth, showing how popular and important pickleball has become in the region.
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