What started as a wacky backyard pastime in the 1960s has morphed into a social phenomenon. In recent years, pickleball has leapt over the net and off the court, uniting generations, genders, and races from coast to coast. The Upstate is experiencing an explosion of places to play, with two locations taking things a step further, creating community on the sidelines. Grab your paddle and let’s go.
Pickle Yard
Since opening in December, Pickle Yard in Mauldin has seen 100 to 200 people visit each day. “We have a ton of folks from Greenville coming,” shares cofounder and COO Jim Canavos. “Mauldin and Simpsonville are big feeders, but people are coming from everywhere. Folks from Anderson and Clemson came today, and it’s their third or fourth time here.”
The draw is far beyond banging a plastic ball with a composite paddle. Pickle Yard has ProTee golf simulators, the area’s only public-access padel courts (padel is a blend of tennis and squash), and food and beverages by the same folks who run The Anchorage. “It’s elevated bar fare for certain,” confides Canavos. “The Sticky Chicken Bowl and Pork Belly & Pimento Cheese Wontons are crowd favorites. We love the fact that people don’t just come here to play. It’s a sense of community. We wanted to create a space that everybody would love, irrelevant of what you want to do here.”
March will bring a bevy of new entertainment options, with live bands playing on Pickle Yard’s 5,000-square-foot covered porch. “We’re going to be nimble on booking bands,” Canavos explains. “We want to hear what people want to hear. This has been four years in the planning, and our next steps will support our mission. This entire facility is meant to be for everyone, whether you play pickleball, golf, or like to eat. We want to provide a variety of experiences that are tailored to each individual’s needs.”
15 Jenkins Ct., Mauldin, ThePickleYard.com
PKL Park
John Sharkey uses the same semantics to describe PKL Park, which recently celebrated one year in the heart of downtown Greenville. “It’s been an exciting ride,” the cofounder reveals. “We built a place we feel is an extension of Unity Park, a place where you feel a vibe of a good outdoor spot with community.”
From morning Bible studies to evening bachelorette parties, sometimes the courts are used. Other times, visitors stick to the three on-site restaurants and bar, children’s playground, music stage, and lawn games. “There are a lot of places to play in the area,” Sharkey says. “We wanted this to focus on a hospitality activity. We’re kind of obsessed with the guest experience. How easy it is to jump into a game, sit at a table and order, or for a busy mom with three kids [to find] a place to relax?”
Watching real relationships spring from an idea sketched upon a napkin years ago? Gratifying. John sums it up well: “At the very beginning and the end of the day, PKL is a place to play a little, eat a lot, and leave with new friends.” The perfect place to find community.
78 Mayberry St., Greenville, PKLParkGVL.com:
Eye on the Ball
Per the Sport & Fitness Industry Association:
- Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US.
- More than 20 million people now play.
- The sport has experienced a 300 percent growth the past three years.
