Pickleball for Everyone: Poky Pickleball to Open Inside Westwood Mall

Poky Pickleball to Open Inside Westwood Mall: A new family-friendly pickleball facility, Poky Pickleball, is set to open inside Westwood Mall on Garrett Way. This venue aims to provide affordable indoor pickleball courts for people of all ages and skill levels, allowing players to enjoy the sport year-round.

Concept and Development

Entrepreneurs Sterling Murdock and Jared Huckstep came up with the idea for Poky Pickleball in July 2024 after realizing their pickup games were growing too large for church facilities and outdoor spaces.

“It started out with us playing in the church buildings and it got to the point where there were just too many people. Everyone wants to go play. Everyone wants the court. There’s only so many church buildings and (the Mountain View Event Center) and everything else like that when it comes to only being able to play outdoors for maybe four or five months out of the year.” – (Sterling Murdock)

Murdock, who has nine years of experience in the athletic facility industry, and Huckstep, owner of Hux Customs gun shop, decided to pursue their passion for pickleball. They signed a lease with Westwood Mall earlier this month and began construction to transform the space into an indoor pickleball venue.

Affordable Access for Everyone

Murdock emphasized the importance of affordability for their facility.

“We went through with it. We went and looked at the space again, we went back and forth trying to see what rent is going to be best for everybody, so that we can still maintain it to be affordable for people. That’s the one thing we really wanted it to be — we want it to be affordable. We don’t want it to be where it’s too expensive for the normal person to come and be involved with pickleball.” – (Sterling Murdock)

Players can expect to pay around $5 to $8 for walk-ins and $29.99 for monthly membership plans that can include multiple family members and friends.

Poky Pickleball will offer temperature-controlled courts, ensuring a comfortable environment during cold winters and hot summers. The facility will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it accessible for everyone.

“It’s a good sport for people that don’t really exercise a whole lot, people that may not be able to lift weights, they may not be able to run, they’re a little bit slower, especially the older generation. It’s a great sport for them. It’s low impact on their joints. They’re not running miles and miles, but it’s still elevating their heart rate, keeping them active. It’s a sport that anybody can play. You can go find a paddle for $15 to $20 and you can come and play.” – (Sterling Murdock)

Community Engagement and Services

In addition to open play, Poky Pickleball plans to host tournaments, leagues, and after-school programs.

“We want it to be a place where kids can come and play. There’s not a whole lot of areas for the younger generation and the older generation to go somewhere and be active, minus a gymnasium or basketball court. The goal is to get in before the end of January, have a grand opening (in early February) and make it where anybody can come and play at any level, any ranking. If you’re brand new or if you’ve been playing for the last four years or even playing since grade school, we just want it to be where it’s enjoyable for everyone.” – (Sterling Murdock)

The venue will also feature a pro shop with various pickleball items, ball machines, and training classes led by certified coaches to help players improve their skills.

Murdock mentioned partnerships with local organizations like ICCU and Portneuf Medical Center to further engage the community.

“We’ll have open play every day. We’ll have tournaments, we’ll have leagues, we’ll have every level anybody wants to come play. We’ll have after school programs for the students. We’re (also) working on a bunch of stuff with ICCU and Portneuf Medical Center. The biggest thing is we want to give back to the community and give them a space where everyone can stay active and everyone can stay involved.” – (Sterling Murdock)

Looking Forward

The opening of Poky Pickleball marks a significant addition to the local sports landscape. By providing a dedicated indoor facility for pickleball, Murdock and Huckstep aim to foster a welcoming environment for players of all ages and skill levels.

The grand opening is expected in early February 2025, giving the community a new space to enjoy one of the fastest-growing sports.

News in Brief: Poky Pickleball to Open Inside Westwood Mall