Check out the renderings for Boca Raton's $20 million indoor pickleball and padel complex
BOCA RATON — In the city where palm trees sway and tennis once reigned, a new sound is rising: the pop of a pickleball. On Tuesday, Boca Raton broke ground on Boca Paddle, a sleek, climate-controlled club that blends luxury, sport and community into one expansive 100,000-square-foot playground.
The $20 million public-private project by CityPickle is expected to open in early 2026. It will feature 25 courts, including 14 indoor pickleball courts and six padel courts, as well as wellness amenities, coworking space, a pro shop, cold plunges, saunas and a full-service restaurant by Farmer’s Table.
"Boca Raton, I think, like a lot of cities around the country, realized a few years ago that there was a massive shortage of supply relative to the exploding demand for pickleball," Brian Levine, co-founder of Boca Paddle and Boca Raton resident, said.
In response, the city issued a request for proposals to form a public-private partnership that could meet that need.
Beyond the general shortage, Levine said, there also was a lack of climate-controlled facilities — something especially important in Boca Raton, where heat and frequent rain can make outdoor play difficult. This project aims to solve that by creating not just courts, but a full-fledged community space for pickleball and padel players to gather, play and spend time.
Levine is a board member of the United Pickleball Association. It's the parent company of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.
"Despite the fact that the game has exploded and it's incredibly popular in Boca Raton, one of the things that we've lacked is sort of a home to play at," he said. "We often go to different courts on different days, and we're always trying to coordinate our schedules. We think Boca Paddle Club is going to be that home."
According to the 2025 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Participation Report, pickleball ranked as the fastest-growing sport in the country for the fourth consecutive year.
"In 2024, 19.8 million Americans participated in pickleball, a 45.8% increase from the 2023 figure and an incredible 311% increase from three years ago," the February 2025 SFIA report stated.
Malcolm Butters, CEO and president of Butters Construction, the real estate developer behind the project, called it unique.
"We don't own a lot of recreational facilities, but when you look at stuff that we've developed and built, it's very similar," Butters said. "The first goal of this was to provide a very economical and accessible top-notch facility for the residents of Boca Raton and the surrounding communities."
Boca Paddle, according to the people bringing it to life, will be for players of all levels.
"Everyone's going to be welcome at Boca Paddle," Levine said. "It's a home for players of all ages and abilities. It doesn't matter if you're a first timer or a literal professional, because there will be professionals there."
Programming, Levine said, will range from clinics, to lessons, to open play, to leagues and tournaments. The facility will will host more than 200 hours of daily court time. Once open, there will be courts dedicated to people playing for their first time.
"You could have pros there advising them and helping them improve," he said. "The culture of pickleball is that you have people at different levels all sort of playing together, and it's one of the neat things."
Boca Raton is home to seven of the world’s current top 10 pickleball players.
"Boca Raton is excited to welcome Boca Paddle — a premier pickleball destination that will provide a new world-class amenity to our residents," Mayor Scott Singer said at the project's June 10 groundbreaking. "Boca Raton is at the center of the pickleball universe, with many pros and the reigning NPL champions residing here. This new facility will deliver top-flight recreation for these booming racquet sports."
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton breaks ground on luxury indoor pickleball and padel complex
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