Wilmington Approves New Pickleball Facility: Wilmington city leaders approved a special use permit for The Club at Midtown, allowing new indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at the Holly Tree Racquet Club. The project will convert tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts and include a 33,000-square-foot indoor facility.
Facility Expansion Plans
The site, located at 4950 Holly Tree and 304 Westchester Roads, has operated as a private tennis facility since 1994, featuring 10 tennis courts, a clubhouse, and a pool. The special use permit was necessary to add impervious surfaces and indoor space, according to Sam Potter, attorney for project developer Mike Harms.
Initially, the proposal included a simulated golf driving range, which has been removed due to community concerns. “The amount of pushback we got from the community and the neighbors and, quite frankly, planning staff caused us to withdraw the golf facility,” Potter said.
Community Concerns Addressed
During a quasi-judicial hearing, several residents voiced worries about how the proposal would affect traffic, noise levels, and stormwater runoff. In response, Harms agreed to conditions to address these concerns. Outdoor pickleball players will use sound-reducing paddles, and tournament play will be restricted to the indoor courts. The club’s membership will be capped at 800, and outdoor play will not begin before 9 a.m. on weekdays.
To mitigate noise further, outdoor courts will be surrounded by acoustic fence, a sound-deadening material. The project also plans to renovate the clubhouse, add a 50-seat restaurant, refurbish the pool, and create 139 additional parking spaces.
Project Impact and Future Expectations
The new pickleball facility is expected to generate around 364 average daily vehicle trips, which is about 60 more than the current usage of the site.
News in Brief: Wilmington Approves New Pickleball Facility
Wilmington’s city leaders approved plans for a new pickleball facility at Holly Tree Racquet Club. The project will convert tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts, add an indoor facility, and address community concerns about noise and traffic with specific conditions.
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