Pensacola wants to turn harbor warehouses into pickleball courts

Pensacola, Florida (WKRGMore) — The Pensacola City Council is expected to hear plans next week from a company that wants to convert an unused warehouse in the Port of Pensacola into a pickleball court open to the public.

“Pickleball is growing rapidly across the country,” said Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson.

Pickleball is a popular sport that combines tennis, badminton and table tennis. Pensacola wants to not only participate in the fun, but to earn the income the tournament brings to the city. Dubbed “Project Pickles,” it’s transforming a warehouse in the Port of Pensacola into an indoor sports facility.

“There’s the prospect of wanting to put that building outside the fence so that it can be accessed and used,” Robinson said.

The 48,000-square-foot building sits on the edge of the harbor grounds next to the ferry landing.

“This is a fairly old, underutilized warehouse,” says Robinson. “There are some challenges on the floor.”

The city has yet to say which companies would be interested in bringing this to life. Plans are primarily centered around pickleball, but there may also be volleyball and basketball courts.

This adds to the city’s ongoing strategy to upgrade and redevelop the port while revitalizing the downtown waterfront.

“Certainly, the last four years downtown have been incredibly vibrant and have never been as valuable as they are now,” Robinson said.

The company plans to make a presentation to the city council on Monday afternoon, which is likely to include design plans.