OPUS Pickleball Indoor Club Launch: OPUS Pickleball will officially open the weekend of September 27 in Wyndmoor, offering a new indoor space for players across Northwest Philadelphia. Owner and Springfield Township Commissioner Ed Morris said the club is designed to welcome everyone, offering both membership and hourly play options.
A First for the Area
OPUS Pickleball is the first dedicated indoor pickleball club in Northwest Philadelphia. The facility will feature six pro-cushion doubles courts, two pro-cushion singles courts, a Wi-Fi lounge, outdoor patio, virtual pro shop, and restrooms with showers.
“We are open to anybody. You don’t have to be a member to play. I want you to be in this space. I want you to enjoy being here. I want you to want to be here.”(Ed Morris)
From Old Warehouse to Modern Club
The club is located in a former warehouse at 900 East Mermaid Lane, next to Mermaid Park. The building, once used by George Ford and Sons, had been empty since 2017. Ed Morris leased it in 2023 after a new owner bought the property in 2022. The space required major work to become usable, including removing old carpet, wood paneling, fallen insulation, and damaged walls.
“I love being part of taking something from an underutilized, underused asset and converting it to something that can be enjoyed, used, and [made] better for the community,” (Ed Morris).
A Lifelong Connection to Pickleball
Ed Morris discovered pickleball in the early 1990s while attending the William Penn Charter School. Physical education teacher Rick Mellor introduced the sport to students after bringing pickleballs back from a conference.
“[Mellor] and Debbie White, the gym teachers, taught everybody pickleball, and it caught fire,” (Ed Morris).
His love for the sport, combined with community need, inspired the project.
“I started this because there was a need in the community, and I thought that we could fill it and we could do it right. I thought that we could do it in a way that people could experience the space, appreciate the space, and we could differentiate ourselves.”(Ed Morris)
Community Support and Excitement
Springfield Township Ward 2 Commissioner Susanna Ratsavong welcomed the opening, noting that the township is planning a nearby recreation center but it is still years away.
“Our township is working on a nearby recreation center plan that will incorporate indoor court sport opportunities to offer those who may not be ready to take the leap into the sport a chance to try it as well. That is still some time away, so it’s great that another space will be able to report back on that demand,” (Susanna Ratsavong).
She hopes the club will draw more visitors to the area and support local shops and restaurants.
Local resident and Kearsley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center administrator Brian Galinkin agreed that the community needs a dedicated facility.
“There are usually people that either want to play tennis or other people that want to play pickleball. So I think there’s definitely a need [for a dedicated facility].”(Brian Galinkin)
A Project Close to Home
Ed Morris grew up in Cheltenham and now lives near Wyndmoor. He said creating OPUS Pickleball is a way to give back to the community that raised him. He frequently welcomes curious visitors who stop by for tours, eager to share the project with his neighbors.
News in Brief: OPUS Pickleball Indoor Club Launch
OPUS Pickleball opens September 27 in Wyndmoor as the first indoor pickleball club in Northwest Philadelphia. Owner Ed Morris transformed an abandoned warehouse into a facility with eight courts, a lounge, and more. The club will offer both memberships and hourly play to meet strong community demand.
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