Plymouth’s New Pickleball Paradise: Pure Pickleball Club, a new indoor pickleball facility with 19 pickleball courts, has opened in Plymouth, Minnesota. Created by father-daughter duo Jon and Leah Schwartzman, the club aims to build a strong pickleball community. It offers open play, a fitness center, and special events for players of all ages.
A Vision Realized
Jon and Leah Schwartzman began planning their facility in 2019 after discovering a love for pickleball. Leah, a former college athlete, wanted to maintain competition and community post-graduation.
“We’re seeing a lot more younger people become active in the pickleball community just because it is such a social sport and because of your ability to make friends and connect with people from other walks of life that you may not have crossed paths with [otherwise].” – (Leah)
Their project was delayed by the pandemic, but it gave them time to refine their vision.
“We had a chance to see what other people had done—things that we liked and thing that we didn’t like about those other facilities, so when we found our spot, we decided to focus on the concept of what works best as far as lighting, ceiling heights, and everything else that goes into making a first-class facility.” – (Jon)
They focused on lighting, ceiling height, and court design to create a high-quality playing experience.
“One of the biggest issues in indoor pickleball is the lighting because if the lighting isn’t good, then it’s really difficult to see the ball. if you don’t have the right paint colors, it’s hard to pick up the ball when it’s hit at you.” – (Jon)
More Than Just Pickleball
The Schwartzmans wanted to provide more than just courts. Their facility includes a gym, lounge spaces, and a snack area. Leah emphasized the convenience.
“You get everything that you need within our facility—you can play pickleball and work out without having to drive around the Twin Cities.” – (Leah)
Memberships include fitness center access, and the club prioritizes open play to foster community connections.
“People keep referring to it as the old school pickup basketball, where you just show up to a gym or a park and you jump into a game and meet people—that’s really the type of community that we’re trying to create.” – (Leah)
Community Events and Future Plans
The club already hosts regular events like family open play on Sundays and free play for women on Wednesdays. A social mixer for players 30 and under has also been popular, featuring playtime and drinks at a nearby brewery. A summer tournament with food trucks and festivities is also in the works. Running a family business has been a rewarding challenge.
“I can’t talk highly enough about my dad and what I’ve been able to learn.” – (Leah)
Jon echoed her sentiment.
“I am absolutely 100 percent confident in her decisions. And we still have our father-daughter relationship, which is the most important thing, but we also have a really strong business relationship, and we see eye to eye on most things, so it’s worked out well for both of us.” – (Jon)
Looking ahead, the Schwartzmans hope to expand programming, adding youth and family events. If demand continues, they may consider opening more locations.
“The demand for pickleball around the country and even in Minnesota is still growing and there’s still a shortage of courts indoors and outdoors, and we want to continue to ride the wave as long as there’s a strong demand.” – (jon)
News in Brief: Plymouth’s New Pickleball Paradise
Pure Pickleball Club has opened in Plymouth, Minnesota, featuring 19 pickleball courts, a gym, and social events. Created by Jon and Leah Schwartzman, the club aims to build a community-focused pickleball hub. Plans for future expansion include youth programming, family events, and possibly more locations as pickleball’s popularity continues to surge.
ALSO READ: Spring Fling Pickleball Tournament at Sussex County YMCA!