Pickles NE, LLC, a new indoor, first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art, climate-controlled pickleball-only complex, announced today they will host open houses this Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend, and safety protocols including face masks and social distancing will be in place.
The open houses are prelude to the grand opening, scheduled for Friday, March 12.
During the open houses, attendees will be able to take a tour of the complex and register for memberships. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase from the Hanover-based “Mom on the Go” Food Truck.
The 25,000-square-foot premier pickleball facility in New England is located at 357 Columbia Road in Hanover, and features six climate-controlled, indoor tournament-sized courts, two indoor dinking practice courts, a players’ lounge with viewing deck, an indoor refreshment garden, and retail shop. Four outdoor courts will also be added later in the summer.
Pickles was founded by Lisa DeMeritt and Wanda Melampy – two women with a love for the sport of pickleball and the observation that there is a definite lack of indoor courts exclusively dedicated to the sport of pickleball in New England.
Because the space is dedicated exclusively to pickleball, all of the courts are designed to regulation, with easy-to-see lines, bright colors, and appropriate SportMaster playing surfaces. DeMeritt and Melampy created Pickles in coordination with the USA Pickleball Association, the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the U.S. that provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials.
Pickles offers opportunities for players at all levels, from beginners to professionals, through an inclusive approach that offers various levels of instruction as well as opportunities for ranked players.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have come this far,” said DeMeritt. “This is a dream come true for Wanda and me, and we can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve created!”
“The sport has meant so much to us – we are thrilled to be able to share it with the South Shore community and beyond,” added Melampy.
About Pickles NE, LLC
Pickles was founded by Lisa DeMeritt and Wanda Melampy, two women with a passion for the sport of pickleball. After being introduced to the sport and observing its huge following, they identified a need for additional local outdoor courts and an even bigger demand for indoor courts exclusively for the sport of pickleball. Pickles will include a recreational facility providing indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, food service from various food trucks, a café area, and a small retail shop carrying the latest pickleball gear.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum as a game the whole family could take part in. Year over year the sport has experienced growth as more people become familiar with pickleball; today, over 5 million people throughout the United States play pickleball, and it has grown 650% over the last five years, making it considered the fastest-growing sport in the world.
Pickles is located at 357 Columbia Road in Hanover, MA. For more information, please visit www.picklesne.com.
